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), pledging to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The defection was formally announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, 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.
Popularly known as “Abba,” he described the move as both historic and personal, announcing his resignation from the PDP and alignment with the APC.
He also directed members and coordinators of his political structure, formerly the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, to immediately join the APC and support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba. I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party and my decision to join the APC,” he said.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. I have also directed all coordinators of my association to join the APC and mobilise support for the President.”
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, saying it signalled a shift towards what he called “politics without borders.”
“This young man has assessed the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them. Our party is driven by ideology and national interest, not personal ambition,” Salihu said, assuring Abba of full rights within the APC.
Senator Barau congratulated Abba on what he described as a “bold, wise, and principled decision,” noting that his defection was based on conviction rather than family ties.
“You did not come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology, and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Barau said.
The Deputy Senate President disclosed that Abba, who had been following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the administration’s reforms, which influenced his decision to return to Nigeria and join the APC.
“He is young, focused, and determined to contribute to shaping the future of our country. This is the kind of youth leadership Nigeria needs,” Barau added.
Also speaking, a presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abba of President Tinubu’s support within the party.
“Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father. Your decision is like returning home. You and your supporters have a future in this party,” Abdullahi said.
On behalf of the defecting group, the Kano State coordinator, Hon. Mubarak Musa, described the move as strategic, noting that all political activities would now be coordinated through Senator Barau.
“We will double our efforts and deliver for the APC in 2027,” Musa said, describing Barau as a key pillar of the party in the North.
The highlight of the event was the formal renaming of Abba’s political structure from the Haske Atiku Organisation to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete political realignment and an endorsement of President Tinubu’s second-term bid.
