‘I don’t coerce my children,’ Atiku reacts as son joins APC, drums support for Tinubu’s re-election
The son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Abba Atiku Abubakar, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the aim of mobilising support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Abubakar was formally received into the ruling party on Thursday evening in Abuja by Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, alongside Mustafa Salihu, the APC’s national vice-chairman for the north-east.
He also announced a rebranding of his political platform, formerly known as the Atiku Haske Organisation founded in 2022, which has now been renamed the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation.
Abubakar instructed all coordinators and members of his political structure to immediately join the APC and work towards advancing Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
“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,” he said.
“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 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 the APC and work for President Tinubu.”
Welcoming him into the party, Mustafa Salihu described the defection as significant and symbolic.
“Today is one of my happiest days; we are looking beyond old social and political cleavages,” he said.
“This young man has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them.”
Salihu added that the APC is guided by ideology and policy direction rather than individual ambition, assuring Abubakar of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
In his remarks, Barau Jibrin congratulated Abubakar, describing his move as courageous and driven by principle.
“You have made a decision based on ideology; you didn’t come here because of your father,” the deputy senate president said.
“You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the renewed hope agenda.”
Barau noted that Abubakar, who had been observing political developments from the United States, was impressed by the reforms and engagement efforts of the Tinubu administration.
“He is young, focused, and determined to contribute to shaping the future of our country; this is the kind of youth Nigeria needs,” he said.
My son’s defection, his personal choice – Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said the decision of his son, Abba Abubakar, to join the All Progressives Congress was a personal choice and not a cause for alarm.
In a statement issued on Thursday via X, Atiku said political choices made by family members were normal in a democracy and insisted he did not interfere with the conscience of his children or Nigerians.
“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 added, “As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians.”
Atiku, however, criticised the ruling party, saying his main concern remained governance and the state of 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,” he said.
He further stated, “I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress.”