Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has publicly reacted to the defection of his son, Abba Abubakar, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), making it clear that the move was a private decision and does not signal any shift in his own political allegiance.
In a statement shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Atiku said he firmly believes in democratic freedoms and respects the right of every citizen including his children to make political choices guided by conscience. He stressed that he does not compel anyone to adopt his personal political views.
Atiku’s clarification followed Abba Abubakar’s announcement on January 15 that he had formally joined the APC and pledged support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who defeated Atiku in the 2023 presidential contest.
Further fuelling public debate, Abba also revealed the rebranding of his political support group from the Atiku Haske Organisation, founded in 2022, to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, a move that attracted widespread political attention.
Addressing the growing speculation, Atiku warned against interpreting his son’s defection as an endorsement of the APC or the Tinubu administration.
“The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal,” Atiku said.
“In a democracy, such decisions are neither strange nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect. As a committed democrat, I do not coerce my children in matters of conscience, and I will never coerce Nigerians.”
Now aligned with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), the former vice-president reaffirmed his determination to work with other opposition forces to challenge the APC’s governance record and prevent President Tinubu from securing a second term in 2027.
“What truly worries me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has inflicted on Nigerians,” he stated.
“I remain steadfast in working with patriots to restore good governance and to present Nigerians with a credible alternative that delivers relief, hope and progress.”
Atiku contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), finishing second with 6,984,520 votes. President Tinubu of the APC won the election with 8,794,726 votes, while Labour Party candidate Peter Obi placed third with 6,101,533 votes.