Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Popularly known as Abba, the younger Atiku announced his defection on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
He was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other top APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone, in what party officials described as a major political realignment.
Addressing party leaders and supporters at the event, Abubakar announced his resignation from the PDP and formally declared his allegiance to the APC, describing the decision as both historic and personal.
He also directed members and coordinators of his political support group, the Haske Atiku Organisation—founded in 2022—to immediately join the APC and mobilise support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general election.
“My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, popularly known as 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 attributed his decision to what he described as the leadership qualities of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, adding that he would work closely with him to actualise President Tinubu’s second-term bid.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. I hereby direct all coordinators and members of my association to join the APC and work for President Tinubu,” he added.
Welcoming the new entrant, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, saying it signalled a new phase of inclusive politics.
“Today is one of my happiest days. We are moving beyond old political and social divides. This young man has reviewed the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them,” Salihu said.
He assured Abubakar of equal rights and opportunities within the party, stressing that the APC is driven by ideology, governance goals, and policy direction rather than personal ambition.
