Political discussions intensified on Thursday over the defection of Abubakar “Abba” Atiku to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following mixed reactions from party stakeholders. APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe expressed both enthusiasm and caution regarding the move.
In a social media post, Igbokwe welcomed reports that Atiku’s son had joined the ruling party but warned against potential internal disruption.
“I hear that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s son has joined APC. I hope it is real oooo. We do not want a mole in the house oooo. Ka fi suru oooooo,” he wrote.
According to Gossip News Now, Abba Atiku formally left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC on January 15 during a ceremony at the National Assembly complex in Abuja. He was received into the party by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), alongside senior APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone.
At the event, Abba pledged to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid and instructed members of his political network to align with the APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The timing of Abba’s defection has drawn attention, coming shortly after his father, Atiku Abubakar, left the PDP for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Atiku’s move is widely seen as a strategic effort to build a coalition capable of challenging the APC in 2027.
The diverging paths of father and son have sparked further debate within Nigeria’s political circles.
Reacting to his son’s decision, Atiku clarified that it was “entirely personal” and should not be viewed as a reflection of his own political stance. In a statement on social media, he emphasized that democracy allows freedom of choice, even within families.
“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians,” he said, while reiterating his criticism of the APC-led Federal Government and his commitment to building an alternative platform for Nigerians ahead of 2027.
Responses within the APC have been varied. Some leaders welcomed Abba’s defection as symbolic, while others advised caution.
The APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the move as an example of “politics without borders,” welcoming Abba into the party. Senator Barau Jibrin praised the decision as courageous and based on conviction rather than family loyalty.
A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, described Abba’s defection as a “return home” to the ruling party.
Conversely, the Lagos State APC adopted a more critical tone, labelling the move a significant blow to Atiku Abubakar’s political credibility. In a statement, spokesman Seye Oladejo said the party noted “with unmistakable clarity the political earthquake” caused by Abba abandoning what it called a “pretentious ADC contraption” for the APC.
“This singular act has said more than a thousand press conferences ever could,” Oladejo remarked. He added, “When a man’s own son rejects his political judgment and embraces a different path, Nigerians are justified in questioning his credibility. If those closest to you are unconvinced, how do you expect an entire nation to believe?”
Not all APC members shared the celebratory mood. Former presidential aspirant Adamu Garba cautioned party faithful against over-celebration, describing the defection as concerning rather than a cause for jubilation.
Gossip News Now reports that Abba Atiku’s move is the latest in a wave of political cross-carpeting reshaping party alignments nationwide, particularly in the North, as both the APC and the emerging ADC coalition prepare for the 2027 general elections.
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