Atiku’s son picks APC card, says Tinubu’s re-election unstoppable

Abba Atiku, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, formally joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, declaring that no political party can defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Abba, who first announced his defection to the APC on January 15, picked his APC membership card at Gwadabwa Ward in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where he openly pledged to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Speaking shortly after his registration, Abba said his decision was driven by what he described as the “best economic and human reformations” under the Tinubu administration.

“I want to make it very clear: nobody or any political party can stop President Bola Tinubu from returning to Aso Rock in 2027,” he said.

“Nigerians have seen his good work. He is not a tribalist. He does not make appointments based on religion or region. His decisions are purely on merit.”

He said he was particularly impressed by what he described as massive human capital and infrastructural development across the country, adding that Tinubu deserved broad national support beyond party lines.

“The President needs your support to continue with the good work. We should mobilise more people, irrespective of party affiliations, to support our President,” Abba said.

Presenting the APC membership card to Abba, the party’s Zonal Vice Chairman for Adamawa Central, Alhaji Isa Bagalti, said the defection had put to rest speculations about the ruling party’s chances in 2027.

“With this development, it is now clear that there is no political party or presidential candidate in Nigeria that can face our President in the 2027 election,” Bagalti said.

Also speaking, a top APC chieftain in Adamawa State, Alhaji Jamilu Yusuf, said President Tinubu had no rival ahead of the next presidential poll, describing other aspirants as “wishful thinkers.”

“Most of those claiming they want to contest see politics as a trade fair, where people come to buy and sell,” Yusuf said.

“I advise such people to invest their money in profitable ventures because the office of President is no longer for the highest bidder, but for competent people like President Tinubu.”

Abba’s defection adds a new layer of political irony to Adamawa politics, as Atiku Abubakar remains a presidential aspirant under the African Democratic Congress, with none of his sons in the party.

Another son of the former Vice President, Adamu Atiku, remains a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party and currently serves as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development under Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

Abba had earlier announced his defection on January 15 at the National Assembly in Abuja, where he was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside key APC leaders from the North-East.

“My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba,” he said at the event.

“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 said his decision was influenced by the leadership style of Senator Barau Jibrin and pledged to work with him to secure Tinubu’s second-term bid.

“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.

“To this effect, I am directing all coordinators of my association to join the APC and work for President Tinubu.”

Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching.

“Today is one of my happiest days,” Salihu said. “We are looking beyond old social and political cleavages. This young man has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them.”

However, reacting to his son’s defection, Atiku Abubakar said the decision was purely personal.

“The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal,” Atiku said.“In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect.

“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians.”(Punch)