Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, where Abubakar, popularly known as Abba, was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside key APC leaders from the North-East.
Explaining his decision, Abba said his move was based on personal conviction and historical considerations. He also dissolved his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation established in 2022, and directed all its coordinators and members to join the APC and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, known as Abba. I am here to formally announce my resignation from my former party, where we worked together in 2023, and my decision to join the APC,” he said.
He praised Senator Barau Jibrin’s leadership and commended the performance of the Tinubu administration, pledging to work actively toward securing the president’s second-term bid in 2027.
“With this step, I will work closely with Senator Barau to ensure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election. I have directed all coordinators of my organisation to join the APC and fully support the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
Welcoming him into the party, APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as significant and symbolic, saying it reflected politics beyond personal affiliations.
Senator Barau congratulated Abba, describing his decision as bold, principled, and ideologically driven, adding that the move strengthens the APC’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“You came here not because of your father, but because you believe in President Tinubu’s vision and leadership,” Barau said.
Atiku Abubakar, Abba’s father, is currently a leading figure within the African Democratic Congress, which he joined in November 2025 after leaving the PDP, and is widely regarded as a key contender in the 2027 presidential race.
