In a development that has stirred fresh debate ahead of the 2027 general elections, Abba Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Abba Abubakar, who is also known as Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, announced his defection on January 15, 2026, at an event held at the National Assembly complex in Abuja. He was formally received into the APC by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, alongside other senior party leaders from the North-East zone. At the event, he pledged to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The younger Abubakar, who founded a political group in 2022 known as the Haske Atiku Organisation, also announced a rebranding of the structure. He said the group would now be known as the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation and directed all its coordinators and members nationwide to join the APC and work toward President Tinubu’s second term.
“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 told party leaders and supporters at the event.
The defection has generated widespread reactions across Nigeria’s political space, largely because of Atiku Abubakar’s status as one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures and his long-standing rivalry with the APC.
Hours after the news broke, Atiku Abubakar responded in a statement shared on his verified X account. He described his son’s decision as a personal choice and stressed his belief in democratic values and individual freedom.
“The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal. In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect. As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians,” Atiku stated.
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He added, “What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people. I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress.”
The former vice president’s reaction struck a calm and restrained tone, even as he redirected public attention to his long-held criticism of the APC-led administration, particularly on issues of governance, economic strain and social welfare.
The defection comes amid growing political realignments as parties and key actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku himself has recently been linked to broader opposition consultations and coalition talks beyond the PDP, including reported engagements involving the African Democratic Congress.
Public opinion has remained divided. While some observers see Abba Abubakar’s move as a symbolic setback that could raise questions about Atiku’s political influence, others view the former vice president’s measured response as a calculated effort to preserve family unity while maintaining a firm opposition stance.
The episode highlights the fluid nature of Nigerian politics, where personal conviction, family relationships and national ambition often intersect. As preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, the defection and the response it triggered may serve as an early signal of the shifting alliances and strategies likely to define the political landscape in the months ahead.
