The decision by Abba Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has added a new layer of intrigue to Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, blending personal choice, party realignment and the symbolism of family politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
EKO HOT BLOG gathered that Abubakar announced his defection at the National Assembly in Abuja, where he was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, and other senior APC figures from the North-East. Declaring his exit from the PDP, where he was active during the 2023 election cycle, Abba described his move as “historic and deeply personal,” and pledged to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
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He went further to dismantle his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, directing all coordinators and members to join the APC and mobilise support for the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “I’m here today to formally announce my exit from my former party… and my decision to join the APC,” he said, adding that he would work with Senator Barau to actualise Tinubu’s second-term bid.
For the APC, the optics were significant. Welcoming Abba, the party’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, framed the defection as symbolic of a broader shift. “We are looking beyond old social and political cleavages,” Salihu said, describing the move as evidence of “politics without borders” and insisting that the party was driven by ideology and policy rather than personal ambition. A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, reinforced this message, assuring Abba of President Tinubu’s acceptance and support within the party.
The development inevitably drew attention to Atiku himself, a serial presidential contender who has announced his intention to contest in the 2027 elections.
In a measured response issued via X, Atiku distanced himself from his son’s decision, stressing that it was a personal choice rather than a political statement on his own stance. “The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal,” he said. “In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect.”
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…
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) January 15, 2026
Atiku emphasised that he does not interfere with the political conscience of his children or of Nigerians at large.
“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians,” he said.
At the same time, he sharpened his criticism of the ruling party, arguing that his overriding concern remained governance rather than family politics. “What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people,” Atiku added, reaffirming his resolve to work with “like-minded patriots” to offer Nigerians a credible alternative.
Beyond the formal political exchanges, the episode has spilled into the broader arena of public commentary, where it has been used to interrogate the nature of political loyalty and intolerance among supporters.
Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo captured this mood in a widely shared comment, contrasting elite political choices with grassroots partisanship. While noting that Atiku is now associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and his son has moved from the PDP to the APC, Soyombo highlighted the former vice president’s refusal to coerce his child’s decision.
He then turned his criticism on overzealous supporters: “But you, an Ojuelegba-based civil servant earning 85k monthly, have begun sharpening your machete to inflict damage on a fellow victim of Nigeria who won’t vote for APC. Your tomfoolery is indescribable!”
Atiku is in ADC but his son, formerly of PDP, has joined APC with a vow to work for Tinubu in 2027. Atiku has released a statement defending his son's "entirely personal" decision, saying he won't coerce his son to act against his convictions.
But you, an Ojuelegba-based civil…
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) January 15, 2026
Such commentary shows how Abubakar’s defection is more than a routine party switch. Notably, President Tinubu attended his wedding to his wife, Mariana, in Dubai, in April 2014, but the president and Atiku were still political allies at the time.
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As the countdown to 2027 gradually begins, the Abubakar defection is likely to be remembered less for its immediate electoral impact and more for its symbolism.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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