The political landscape shifted this Thursday as Abubakar Atiku, son of PDP stalwart and 2023 Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, crossed the carpet to the APC.
In an event characterized by party leaders as a “significant realignment,” Abba pledged his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 vision.
By folding his entire political structure—the Haske Atiku Organisation—into the ruling party, the younger Atiku has effectively traded his father’s presidential ambitions for a lead role in the APC’s North-East consolidation.
He told the gathering: “My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba. I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party, where we worked in 2023, and my decision to join the APC.
“Today, I’m here to formally announce my exit from my former party to the APC following the outstanding leadership style and quality of His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027. To this effect, I’m directing all coordinators of my association, to join APC and work for President Tinubu.”
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as both symbolic and far-reaching, saying it reflected a new phase of ‘politics without borders’.
Salihu said: “Today is one of my happiest days. We are looking beyond old social and political cleavages. This young man has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them.”
He stressed that the APC was driven by ideology and policy direction rather than personal ambition, assuring Abba of full rights and equal opportunities within the party.
In his remarks, Sen. Barau congratulated the new APC entrant for what he described as a ‘bold, wise and principled decision’, assuring him and his supporters of maximum support from the party leadership.
“You have made a decision based on ideology. You didn’t come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Deputy Senate President disclosed that Abba, who had been closely following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the Tinubu administration’s reforms and outreach efforts, prompting his return to Nigeria and decision to join the ruling party.
“He is young, focused and determined to contribute to shaping the future of our country. This is the kind of youth Nigeria needs,” Barau added.
Also speaking at the event, a presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abubakar of President Tinubu’s acceptance and backing within the party.
“Just like Atiku, President Tinubu is also your father. Your decision is like returning home. You and your coordinators have a future in this party,” Abdullahi said.
On behalf of the defecting group, the Kano State Coordinator, Mubarak Musa, described the move as strategic, noting that all political activities of the group would now be coordinated through Senator Barau
“We have worked around the clock for our former platform. We will double our efforts and deliver for the APC in 2027,” Musa said.
He described Sen. Barau as their political god father and a key pillar of the APC in the North.
The highlight of the transition was the formal renaming of the Haske Atiku Organization to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organization, signaling a total pivot in support of the President’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and his 2027 bid.
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