Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart Atiku Abubakar has addressed the recent defection of his son, Abba Abubakar, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasising that the decision was a personal choice made in the exercise of democratic freedom.
In a statement posted on his verified X account on Thursday, Atiku described his son’s political realignment as “entirely personal,” noting that political preferences within families are a normal aspect of democratic societies and should not be regarded as alarming even when politics and family intersect. “The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal. In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming,” he wrote.
Atiku reiterated that he does not coerce his own children in matters of conscience — a principle he said extends to all Nigerians. “As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians,” the former PDP presidential candidate added, underlining his commitment to individual political rights and freedoms.
The younger Abubakar’s defection was formally announced at the National Assembly in Abuja, where he publicly resigned from the PDP and aligned with the APC ahead of the 2027 general election. At the event, he pledged to mobilise support for the re‑election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, instructing members of his former political structure to join and back the ruling party’s agenda.
Atiku also used the statement to restate his broader political criticisms of the APC, describing the ruling party’s governance record as poor and responsible for economic and social hardship. “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, underscoring his continued opposition to the current government’s policies.
While distancing himself from his son’s decision, Atiku reaffirmed his own political stance, asserting that he remains committed to rallying like‑minded patriots toward restoring good governance and offering Nigerians a credible alternative that prioritises relief, hope and progress.
The development has stirred significant discussion across political circles, with some interpreting the younger Abubakar’s defection as a symbolic blow to his father’s political influence, while others frame it as an expression of individual agency within Nigeria’s increasingly fluid party landscape.
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