Abba Abubakar, the son of former Vice President of Nigeria and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has officially defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress. He has also pledged to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office in 2027.
The defection was made public on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital. Abba was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other senior leaders of the APC from the North-East geopolitical zone.
Abba, who is popularly known by his first name, announced his resignation from the PDP and described his move to the APC as a personal and historic decision. He said the choice followed careful observation of political developments and leadership within the ruling party.
During his address, Abba directed members of his political group, the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, to immediately align with the APC. He asked all coordinators and supporters of the group to mobilise in support of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general election.
“I am here to formally announce my exit from my former party and my decision to join the APC,” he said. He added that he would work closely with Senator Barau Jibrin to ensure the success of President Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman for the North-East, Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as important and symbolic. He said the move showed a shift toward issue-based politics rather than old divisions.
According to Salihu, the APC remains focused on policies and governance and not personal interests. He assured Abba of equal rights and full inclusion within the party structure.
Senator Barau Jibrin, in his remarks, congratulated Abba on what he described as a bold and thoughtful decision. He said Abba’s choice was driven by belief in President Tinubu’s leadership style and reform agenda, not by family ties.
Barau also revealed that Abba had been following political events while abroad and became convinced by the policies and direction of the current administration. This, he said, influenced his return to Nigeria and decision to join the APC.
“He is young, focused, and ready to contribute to the future of the country,” the senator said.
A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, also spoke at the event and assured Abba of acceptance and support within the party. He described the defection as a return home and encouraged the new entrant and his supporters to remain committed.
Speaking on behalf of the defecting group, the Kano State coordinator, Hon. Mubarak Musa, said the decision was strategic. He explained that the group would now coordinate all its political activities through Senator Barau and intensify efforts to support the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
The event ended with the official renaming of Abba’s political structure from the Haske Atiku Organisation to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation. This change signaled a complete political realignment and a public declaration of support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid.