Former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant Adamu Garba has urged party members not to celebrate the defection of Abba, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
Garba, in a statement shared via his official X handle on Thursday, described Abba’s move as “troubling rather than commendable” and warned that celebrating such defections could have negative moral implications.
“I am a member of APC, but I don’t think joining our party by Abba, the son of former Vice President, H.E. Atiku Abubakar, is a good deal, especially for APC members who are parents,” Garba said. He added that personal ambition should not override fundamental values, noting that loyalty within families reflects broader character traits.
“Any child who dumps his father when he is needed the most will not hesitate to dump you, no matter who else you are,” Garba said, cautioning party members to consider the message such celebrations send.
Abba officially announced his defection from the PDP on Thursday at the National Assembly in Abuja. He was received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, and other APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone.
“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 said. Abba cited the leadership of the Deputy Senate President as a factor in his decision and pledged to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
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Reacting to his son’s decision, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described it as a personal choice and said it was normal in a democracy for family members to make independent political decisions.
“The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal. In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect,” Atiku said, adding that he does not interfere with the conscience of his children or Nigerians.
He reaffirmed his commitment to working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress.