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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the decision of his son, Abba Abubakar Atiku, to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the move was a personal choice and does not reflect his own political position.
Ejes Gist News reports that Abba Atiku was formally received into the APC on Thursday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, alongside other senior party leaders from the North East.
Speaking at the event, Abba Atiku announced his full alignment with the APC and declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. He described his defection as both historic and personal.
He also directed members and coordinators of the political organisation he founded in 2022, formerly known as the Haske Atiku Organisation, to immediately align with the APC and work in support of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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“My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba. I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party and my decision to join the APC,” he said.
Abba Atiku attributed his decision to what he described as the leadership style of the Deputy Senate President and pledged to work with Senator Barau Jibrin to actualise President Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of 2027.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. To this effect, I am directing all coordinators of my association to join the APC and work for President Tinubu,” he added.
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Reacting later on Thursday night, Atiku Abubakar, who is now a presidential hopeful under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), distanced himself from his son’s political decision.
“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,” Atiku said.
He stressed that he does not interfere in the political choices of his children and would not impose his views on Nigerians.
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“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians,” he stated.
However, the former vice president criticised the APC-led government, citing what he described as poor governance and worsening economic and social conditions across the country.
“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 said.
He added that he remains committed to working with political allies to provide Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative focused on good governance, economic relief, and national progress.
