Politics
SHOCKING: Atiku’s Son Abba defects to APC, Pledges Support For Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election
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.
Politics
Jonathan challenges suit seeking his disqualification from 2027 race
The senior lawyer said that it was unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to Court of Appeal.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to restrain him from contesting 2027 presidential election.
Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
Uche informed the court that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5 ,praying the court to dismiss the case.
He said that they got information about the case through the media and hence, the need to file their processes urgently going by the importance of the matter which boiled down on the eligibility of the forner president to contest in the next election.
The senior lawyer said that it was unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to Court of Appeal.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but he was just being served with Jonathan’s processes.
He said that he would need more time to respond
Politics
JUST IN: Federal High Court adjourns ADC leadership suit indefinitely
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely a suit filed by an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, has triggered fresh leadership tensions within the ADC following the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in the party’s leadership structure.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed an interlocutory appeal earlier filed by Mark against the proceedings.
He added that the apex court also set aside the Court of Appeal’s order staying proceedings in the substantive suit.
“The interlocutory appeal of the second defendant has travelled to the Supreme Court. My Lord, we are glad to inform this honourable court that on the 30th day of April 2026, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the interlocutory appeal dismissing the said appeal for lacking in merit,” he said.
Haruna, however, disclosed that the plaintiff had written a letter dated May 4, 2026, to the Chief Judge seeking reassignment of the case to another judge, urging the court to await an administrative decision on the request.
“At this juncture, we must humbly pray to your Lordship, to wait for the administrative decision of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,” he said.
The request was opposed by defence lawyers, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court
In a dramatic political shake-up, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has been removed as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
The decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting of approximately 20 Progressive Governors held in Abuja on Thursday. The governors, who include those of Ogun, Bayelsa, Enugu States and 17 others, convened shortly after the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s presidential nomination form.
Sources at the meeting described the move as a strategic realignment within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) structure. Governor Uzodinma’s removal marks the end of his tenure as PGF Chairman, a position he had held for several years.
A new chairman is expected to be announced soon as the forum seeks to consolidate its position and strengthen coordination among progressive governors ahead of key national political developments.
This development comes at a critical time for the APC, with intra-party dynamics and preparations for future elections taking center stage.
More details are awaited as the Progressive Governors Forum is yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the extraordinary meeting.
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