Defection: APC Commends Atiku for Respecting Son’s Political Choice

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has welcomed the defection of Abba Atiku, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while commending Atiku for what it described as a mature and democratic response to his son’s political decision. The ruling party dismissed suggestions that the development could destabilise its internal structure, insisting it remains disciplined and resilient.

The APC’s reaction followed widespread political debate after Abba Atiku formally joined the ruling party and pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. While the move attracted speculation about its political implications, both the APC and Atiku Abubakar publicly framed the decision as a personal choice consistent with democratic freedoms.

APC Praises Atiku’s Hands-Off Approach

Reacting to the defection, the APC’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, said the party respected Atiku Abubakar’s clear decision to distance himself from his son’s political choice. Speaking in an interview, Duru noted that Atiku’s response reflected democratic values and respect for individual conscience, even within family relationships.

Duru said issues involving family and politics required sensitivity, adding that Atiku had already made his position known by declining to influence his son or the wider public. According to him, the former Vice President’s stance deserved respect, particularly given the political differences between father and son.

He further commended Atiku for what he described as a calm and mature response to a development that some might view as politically adversarial, urging Nigerians to respect both the elder statesman’s views and his son’s decision to align with the APC rather than the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

APC Dismisses Fears of Internal Disruption

Addressing speculation that Abba Atiku could be entering the APC as a political “mole,” Duru firmly rejected such claims. He insisted that the ruling party’s internal discipline, hierarchy, and organisational strength made it impossible for any single individual to undermine its structure.

According to Duru, the APC is anchored on multiple pillars, including discipline, respect for hierarchy, and a focus on leadership and governance. He said these foundations had enabled the party to accommodate diverse opinions while maintaining cohesion and direction.

The party, he added, remained open to new members from different political backgrounds who recognised what he described as the APC’s “overwhelming political machine” and its commitment to providing leadership and shaping a Nigeria citizens could be proud of.

Atiku Speaks, Abba Declares Support for Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar publicly addressed the defection on Thursday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, describing his son’s move to the APC as a purely personal decision. He stressed that political choices were neither unusual nor alarming in a democracy, even when family ties were involved.

Atiku reaffirmed his belief in freedom of conscience, stating that he did not coerce his children or Nigerians on political matters. However, he reiterated his criticism of the APC-led Federal Government, linking the situation to what he described as poor governance and the economic and social hardships facing the country.

Meanwhile, Abba Atiku formally announced his defection at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, where he was received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other APC leaders from the North-East. He pledged to work for President Tinubu’s second-term bid, citing confidence in the administration’s policies and leadership. He also directed members of his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, to join the All Progressives Congress, a group that has since been renamed the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation in support of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.