In a surprising development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, popularly known as Abba and son of former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The announcement was made on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the National Assembly in Abuja, where Abba was warmly received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside key APC leaders from the North-East zone, including the party’s National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu.

Abba, who founded the political platform Haske Atiku Organisation in 2022 to support his father’s 2023 presidential bid, declared his resignation from the PDP as a personal and historic decision. He cited his conviction in the leadership of Senator Barau Jibrin and the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as key factors influencing his move.

“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 stated.

He further pledged full commitment to mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s second-term ambition in 2027, directing all coordinators and members of his former organization to immediately align with the APC and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. To this effect, I am directing all coordinators of my association to join the APC and work for President Tinubu,” Abba added.

In a symbolic high point of the event, the Haske Atiku Organisation was officially renamed the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signaling a complete realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Welcoming the defector, Senator Barau described the move as bold, wise, and principled, noting that Abba — who had been monitoring developments from the United States — was impressed by the Tinubu administration’s reforms.

“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 remarked.

APC National Vice Chairman (North-East) Comrade Mustapha Salihu hailed the defection as symbolic and reflective of “politics without borders,” assuring Abba of equal opportunities within the party. A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, welcomed him as a “homecoming,” stating, “Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father.

Your decision guarantees a future in this party.

“Abba’s political structure and grassroots network are seen by APC leaders as a significant boost to the party’s consolidation efforts in the North ahead of 2027.

The development comes amid ongoing realignments in Nigerian politics, with the APC positioning itself strongly for continuity and the opposition grappling with internal dynamics.