Abba Atiku, the son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has officially joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, declaring his support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Abba completed his registration on Monday at Gwadabwa Ward in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where he received his APC membership card. He had earlier announced his decision to leave his former party on January 15.
After registering, Abba said his move was based on his assessment of the Tinubu administration, which he described as focused on economic reforms, human development, and infrastructure growth across the country. He stated that he was convinced the president enjoys wide national acceptance and strong chances of winning re-election.
He added that the president’s leadership style, which he said cuts across ethnic and religious lines, deserved support from Nigerians regardless of political background. According to him, more people should be mobilised to back the current administration to allow ongoing policies and projects to continue.
Presenting the membership card to Abba, the APC Zonal Vice Chairman for Adamawa Central, Isa Bagalti, said the defection further strengthened the party’s position ahead of 2027. He noted that the development boosted confidence within the party about its electoral prospects.
A senior APC figure in the state, Jamilu Yusuf, also welcomed Abba, saying President Tinubu currently has no serious rival for the next election. He advised those nursing presidential ambitions to focus on other ventures, noting that leadership should be based on competence rather than money or influence.
Abba’s decision has drawn attention in Adamawa politics, as his father remains active in opposition politics under the African Democratic Congress. Another son of the former vice president, Adamu Atiku, is still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and serves as a commissioner in Adamawa State.
Earlier this month in Abuja, Abba was formally received into the APC by senior party leaders, including the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin. At that event, he pledged to work with party leaders to support President Tinubu’s re-election campaign and urged members of his political group to join the APC.
Reacting to his son’s defection, Atiku Abubakar said the move was a personal decision. He explained that in a democratic system, individuals are free to make their own political choices, even within the same family, and stressed that he respects his son’s right to decide.