Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described his son Abba Abubakar’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a personal decision, insisting it does not reflect his own political stance.
In a statement shared on Thursday via X, Atiku said political choices by family members were normal in a democratic setting and stressed that he neither interferes with the conscience of his children nor that of other Nigerians.
“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,” he said.
Atiku added that his focus remained on governance and the welfare of Nigerians, criticising the ruling party over what he described as poor leadership and worsening economic conditions. “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 stated.
He reaffirmed his commitment to working with like-minded Nigerians to provide an alternative that would restore good governance and offer hope and progress to the country.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Abba Abubakar resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and formally joined the APC on Thursday. His defection was announced at the National Assembly in Abuja, where he was received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other APC leaders from the North-East.
Speaking at the event, Abba described his move as personal and historic, citing the leadership style of the Deputy Senate President as one of the factors that influenced his decision. He also pledged to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, urging members of his political association to join the APC and work for the ruling party ahead of the next general election.
