A fresh political twist has emerged ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election as Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has declared his commitment to mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
Abba has openly aligned himself with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite his father’s ambition to return to the presidency under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The younger Abubakar made his position known on Friday, October 30, 2026, during the unveiling of the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation (HBTO) at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
The organisation, which he established, is designed to coordinate political support for Tinubu across the country ahead of the 2027 general election.
During the event, Abba was asked whether he could mobilise enough support to secure victory for Tinubu in Adamawa State, his father’s political stronghold.
He responded confidently, saying: “Yes, yes, yes. We are going to deliver Adamawa State.”
His declaration has attracted attention because it places father and son on opposing sides of the country’s emerging presidential contest.
WHY ATIKU’S SON IS SUPPORTING TINUBU
Explaining his decision, Abba maintained that his political choices were guided by personal convictions rather than family relationships.
He argued that every individual should have the freedom to support a political party or government based on personal judgement, conscience and an assessment of its policies.
According to him, his decision to establish the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation was deliberate and reflected his confidence in the direction of the current administration.
He also dismissed suggestions that his support for Tinubu was intended to undermine his father.
Abba identified several government initiatives that influenced his decision, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), investments in road infrastructure, increased allocations to state governments through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and transportation support programmes.
He explained that he had supported his father politically in the past because he believed in his leadership, but that he was equally prepared to support another government whose policies he considered beneficial to Nigerians.
He said:
“Any government that comes up with policies, and if those policies, to me, are going to help the people, I’ll join them.”
He further insisted that his position should not be interpreted as a personal disagreement with his father, stressing that his support was based on his assessment of Tinubu’s economic policies and ongoing reforms.
ABBA’S CAMPAIGN PLANS FOR TINUBU
Abba’s involvement in Tinubu’s re-election campaign extends beyond public endorsements.
Through the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, he has announced plans to establish a nationwide political mobilisation structure covering Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
One of the organisation’s major proposals is a two-million-man mobilisation march to demonstrate support for the President ahead of the 2027 election.
He also pledged to provide 10 luxury buses to support the campaign and ease transportation difficulties for Nigerians.
The transportation initiative is expected to begin in Abuja before being extended to other parts of the country.
Abba further disclosed plans to mobilise political support in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State, while working with other political organisations and grassroots groups to strengthen Tinubu’s chances.
The organisation intends to engage community leaders, youth groups, women organisations and other stakeholders as part of its nationwide mobilisation strategy.
POLITICAL REACTIONS TO ATIKU’S SON’S DECISION
Abba’s decision has generated reactions within Nigeria’s political circles, particularly because his father remains one of the prominent opposition figures seeking to challenge Tinubu in 2027.
Theo Abu Agada, Director of New Media and Strategic Communications of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), described the development as politically damaging to Atiku’s image.
Reacting to the situation, Agada wrote on X that the development presented very bad optics for the former Vice-President and suggested that he should reconsider his presidential ambition.
However, Abba has maintained that his political independence should be respected, insisting that family relationships should not determine an individual’s political convictions.
A FAMILY DIVIDED BY THE 2027 POLITICAL CONTEST
The development highlights an unusual political situation ahead of the next presidential election.
While Atiku Abubakar is positioning himself to challenge President Tinubu’s administration, his son is actively building a political structure to secure another term for the incumbent.
Atiku has repeatedly criticised the Federal Government’s economic policies, arguing that they have increased the financial difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Abba, on the other hand, believes the administration’s reforms and programmes deserve continued support.
Although their political positions are clearly different, the younger Abubakar insists that his decision is not an attempt to fight his father.
With the 2027 election approaching, Abba’s mobilisation efforts in Adamawa and other parts of the country could become an important talking point in the battle for political support.
