Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has broken silence on the defection of his son, Abba Abubakar from PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku described the decision of his son to join the ruling APC as “entirely personal”.

Abba pledged to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Popularly known as “Abba,” the younger Atiku was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside key APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone, in what party leaders described as a significant political realignment.

Addressing party leaders and supporters at the event, Abubakar announced his resignation from the PDP and declared his alignment with the APC, describing the move as historic and deeply personal.

He also directed all coordinators and members of his political structure, formerly known as the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, to immediately join the APC and mobilise support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said: “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 the APC and work for President Tinubu.”

Reacting, Atiku on his verified X page (formerly Twitter) said: “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.

“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians.

“What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people.

“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.” (The Nation, but headline rejigged)

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