In a development with significant political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections, Abba Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The defection was formally announced on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, where Abba was received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside senior APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone. The move has since sparked widespread political debate, given Abba’s family background and his previous role within the opposition PDP during the 2023 election cycle.
Popularly known as “Abba,” the younger Atiku publicly announced his resignation from the PDP and alignment with the APC, describing the decision as both personal and historic. He said the move was motivated by his assessment of current political leadership and the direction of national governance.
Addressing party leaders and supporters at the event, Abba formally introduced himself and confirmed his decision to switch allegiance. “My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba. I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party, where we worked in 2023, and my decision to join the APC,” he said.
He explained that his defection followed what he described as the leadership style and political maturity of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, as well as his confidence in the APC’s current leadership. According to him, these factors influenced his resolve to work toward the consolidation of President Tinubu’s administration.
“Today, I’m here to formally announce my exit from my former party to the APC following the outstanding leadership style and quality of His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin,” Abba stated.
Beyond his personal defection, Abba also directed members of his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, to immediately decamp to the APC and begin mobilisation in support of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The group, which he founded in 2022, played a mobilisation role during the last general elections, particularly among youth and grassroots supporters in parts of northern Nigeria.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027,” he said. “To this effect, I’m directing all coordinators of my association to join the APC and work for President Tinubu.”
Welcoming Abba into the ruling party, the APC National Vice Chairman for the North-East, Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching. He said the move reflected a shift toward what he termed “politics without borders,” where ideology and national interest outweigh party history or family background.
“Today is one of my happiest days,” Salihu said. “We are looking beyond old social and political cleavages. This young man has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them.”
Salihu assured Abba of equal rights and opportunities within the APC, stressing that the party is driven by ideology and policy direction rather than lineage or political heritage. He added that the APC remains open to Nigerians who believe in its vision and are willing to contribute to national development.
In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, described Abba’s decision as “bold, wise, and principled,” insisting that it was not influenced by family considerations. He said Abba’s defection demonstrated ideological conviction rather than political opportunism.
“You have made a decision based on ideology,” Barau said. “You didn’t come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology, and the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Barau further disclosed that Abba had been observing political developments in Nigeria from the United States and was particularly impressed by the economic and governance reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration. According to him, those reforms influenced Abba’s decision to return to Nigeria and formally align with the ruling party.
The Deputy Senate President expressed confidence that Abba and his political network would strengthen the APC’s grassroots mobilisation, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions, as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 elections.
Also speaking at the event, a presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abba of President Tinubu’s acceptance within the APC family. He used a conciliatory tone to emphasise unity and inclusiveness within the ruling party.
“Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father,” Abdullahi said. “Your decision is like returning home. You and your coordinators have a future in this party.”
Speaking on behalf of members of the Haske Atiku Organisation who defected alongside Abba, the group’s Kano State coordinator, Hon. Mubarak Musa, pledged total commitment to the APC’s political objectives ahead of 2027.
Musa said all political activities of the group would now be coordinated through the office of Senator Barau Jibrin. He added that the organisation was prepared to intensify its mobilisation efforts in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“We have worked around the clock for our former platform,” Musa said. “We will double our efforts and deliver for the APC in 2027.”
Political analysts say the defection is symbolically significant, given Abba’s family lineage and his father’s longstanding role as one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition figures. While the move does not necessarily signal a shift in Atiku Abubakar’s political stance, it highlights the increasingly fluid nature of party politics in Nigeria and the growing importance of individual political calculations.
Observers also note that the APC has intensified efforts to consolidate its political base ahead of 2027 by attracting high-profile defectors and strengthening alliances across geopolitical zones. Abba’s defection is seen by party leaders as part of this broader strategy to project unity and expand influence.
As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to evolve, the move underscores how personal conviction, political ideology, and strategic positioning are shaping alignments ahead of the next general elections. For the APC, Abba Abubakar’s entry is being framed as both a symbolic and practical boost to its mobilisation efforts, while for the broader polity, it signals the early stirrings of the 2027 electoral contest.
