By Peter Omopo
Abba Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, where Abba was formally 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 announced his resignation from the PDP and described his decision to join the APC as both historic and personal. He also directed members and coordinators of his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, founded in 2022, to immediately align with the APC and mobilise support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Addressing party leaders and supporters, Abba said his decision was influenced by what he described as the leadership style of Senator Barau and the performance of the Tinubu administration. He pledged to work with the APC leadership to ensure the success of President Tinubu’s second-term ambition in 2027.
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, noting that it reflected a shift towards what he called “politics without borders.” He said the move showed confidence in the policies and programmes of the Tinubu-led administration and assured Abba of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
In his remarks, Senator Barau congratulated Abba for what he described as a bold and principled decision, stressing that his defection was based on ideology rather than personal or family considerations. He said Abba was impressed by the reforms and outreach initiatives of the Tinubu administration, which motivated his return to Nigeria and alignment with the ruling party.
Barau added that the APC welcomed the young politician and his supporters, describing him as focused and determined to contribute to national development.
Also speaking, a presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abba of President Tinubu’s acceptance and support within the APC, describing his decision as a return home.
On behalf of the defecting group, the Kano State coordinator of the organisation, Hon. Mubarak Musa, said the move was strategic and pledged that the group would intensify efforts to support the APC ahead of the 2027 general election. He added that all political activities of the group would now be coordinated through Senator Barau.
The event culminated in 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 open declaration of support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid.
