Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says his son’s decision to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress and back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid is a personal choice and does not reflect his own political position.
In a statement Friday, Atiku said political affiliation is a matter of individual conviction in a democratic society, stressing that he does not interfere in the political decisions of his children or associates.
“In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect,” Atiku said, responding to the defection of his son, Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, popularly known as Abba.
The former vice president, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, said his opposition to the APC-led government remains unchanged, citing what he described as poor governance and worsening economic conditions under the party.
“What should concern Nigerians is the hardship inflicted by the APC administration,” Atiku said, adding that he remains committed to working with like-minded Nigerians to provide an alternative political direction for the country.
Abba Atiku on Thursday formally joined the APC and pledged support for Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027, a move that has drawn political attention due to his father’s long-standing role as a leading opposition figure.
