Politics
2027 Election: Drama As Atiku’s Son Defects To APC, Collapses Political Group For Tinubu
Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to work for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, as reported by Vanguard.
The defection, which has sent ripples across Nigeria’s political landscape, was formally announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, where Abubakar, popularly known as “Abba,” was received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), alongside APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone.
Speaking at the event, Abba announced his resignation from the PDP and declared his full alignment with the APC, describing the decision as both personal and historic. He also directed all coordinators and members of his political structure, formerly known as the Haske Atiku Organisation founded in 2022, to immediately join the APC and support President 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.
He attributed his decision to what he described as the outstanding leadership style of Senator Barau Jibrin and the performance of the Tinubu administration.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. To this effect, I am directing all coordinators of my association to join the APC and work for President Tinubu,” he added.
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, noting that it reflected “politics without borders.”
“Today is one of my happiest days. This young man has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them,” Salihu said, assuring Abba of equal rights and opportunities within the APC.
Senator Barau congratulated Abba on what party leaders described as a major boost to the APC’s consolidation drive ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the move as bold, wise and principled.
“You have taken a decision based on ideology. You did not come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Barau said.
He disclosed that Abba, who had been following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the administration’s reforms and outreach efforts, which influenced his decision to return to Nigeria and join the APC.
A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abba of President Tinubu’s acceptance and support, saying, “Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father. Your decision is like returning home. You and your coordinators have a future in this party.”
Speaking on behalf of the group, Kano State Coordinator of the organisation, Hon. Mubarak Musa, described the defection as strategic, stressing that their political activities would now be coordinated through Senator Barau.
“We have worked round the clock for our former platform. We will double our efforts and deliver for the APC in 2027,” Musa said, describing Senator Barau as their political leader and a pillar of the party in the North.
At the event, Abba’s political organisation, Haske Atiku, was officially renamed the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete realignment of its structure and mission ahead of the 2027 elections.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) recorded a massive show of strength in Ekiti State as early voting reports from several polling units indicated overwhelming support for the party during the ongoing electoral process.
The development sparked celebrations among ADC supporters across on social media platforms, with many describing the outcome as a reflection of the people’s desire for political change and improved governance.
Reacting to the development, supporters on social media platform X, particularly members of the popular “Atikulate” movement, expressed excitement over the party’s performance. Several posts hailed the results as a positive sign for the opposition ahead of future political contests, while urging party members to remain vigilant until the final declaration of results.
Political observers noted that the strong showing by the ADC could reshape the political landscape in Ekiti, traditionally regarded as a battleground between Nigeria’s major political parties.
As the voting continues, stakeholders have called on supporters to remain peaceful and allow the relevant authorities to complete the process in accordance with electoral guidelines.
However, there was no official result from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as of the time of filing this report. The commission is yet to conclude the collation and announcement of results, while political parties and supporters continue to monitor developments across the state.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has announced it will not be participating in the forthcoming local government election in the state.
The party disclosed this in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Olawale Sadare, on Thursday in Ibadan.
The local government election in the state has been fixed for December 2026, but the APC, in its argument, described the decision to conduct the election as illegal, ill-conceived and self-serving.
Sadare said the decision will further worsen the current situation of things at the grassroots level in the state, alleging that Governor Seyi Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy.
He alleged that such action means that Makinde is now trying to impose another set of lackeys who would be loyal to him even after leaving the office.
“The whole world knows that Gov. Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy, and when it comes to democracy at the grassroots, he cannot be trusted for anything. He has feasted on the resources of the 33 local government councils in the state for over seven years and the people cannot wait for him to leave in May for the third tier of government to regain their freedom.
“The same Makinde is now trying to impose another set of lackeys who would be loyal to him even after leaving Agodi Government House and he knows he cannot do this after the conduct of the 2027 general elections, which outcome would strip him of all political power and influence.”
As Ekiti State prepares for Saturday’s governorship election, Isaac Fayose has alleged that members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are planning to engage in vote-buying during the poll.
Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, raised the alarm on Thursday through a video shared on his official Facebook page.
He claimed that intelligence available to him suggests that arrangements have already been made to influence voters with cash ahead of the election.
The businessman called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to closely monitor activities during the election and take immediate action against anyone caught attempting to buy votes.
According to him, the credibility of the election will depend largely on how effectively security and anti-corruption agencies handle electoral offences.
Fayose argued that Nigeria’s democratic system continues to suffer because elections are often manipulated, making it difficult for truly popular candidates to emerge victorious.
He said, “Nigeria is not developing because our electoral system is faulty. Popular people don’t get into power but unpopular people do because they are rigged in.
“If our votes can’t put the best candidates there, it means we are in a mess. We will see on Saturday whether EFCC is effective or not.
“If EFCC is on ground, they should be able to apprehend many vote buyers because APC is planning to buy votes. EFCC, Nigerians are watching, you now have an office in Ekiti State.
“We have credible information that these people are planning to buy votes”.
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