Chidinma Iroegbu
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has broken his silence on the defection of his son, Abba Abubakar, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that the move was a purely personal decision and should not be linked to his own political stance.
In a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku said he respects the right of every individual including members of his immediate family to make independent political choices based on personal conviction. He emphasised that he does not impose his political beliefs on others.
Atiku’s response followed Abba Abubakar’s announcement on January 15 that he had joined the APC and would support the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who defeated Atiku in the 2023 presidential election.
Abba also unveiled a rebranding of his political support structure, changing its name from the Atiku Haske Organisation, founded in 2022, to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, a development that sparked widespread political debate.
Addressing the controversy, Atiku cautioned against reading political meanings into his son’s decision.
“The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal,” he said.
“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.”
Now aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku reiterated his commitment to working with like-minded Nigerians to challenge the APC’s governance record and to oppose President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
“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.
“I remain resolute in working with patriots to restore good governance and to offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope and progress.”
In the 2023 presidential election, Atiku, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured 6,984,520 votes to finish second. Tinubu of the APC won with 8,794,726 votes, while Labour Party candidate Peter Obi came third with 6,101,533 votes.