Questions over the sincerity of Abubakar “Abba” Atiku’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) dominated political discourse on Thursday after a party chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, openly expressed both excitement and suspicion over the development.
Reacting via a social media post, Igbokwe said he welcomed reports that the son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had joined the ruling party but warned against possible internal sabotage.
“I hear that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s son has joined APC. I hope it is real oooo. We do not want a mole in the house oooo. Ka fi suru oooooo,” Igbokwe wrote.
Abba Atiku formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC on January 15 at an event held at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
He was received into the party by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), in the presence of senior APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone.
At the event, the younger Atiku pledged to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and directed members of his political structure to align with the APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Abba’s decision has generated widespread attention, given its timing, coming shortly after his father, Atiku Abubakar, exited the PDP for the African Democratic Congress.
Atiku’s move to the ADC is widely viewed as part of a broader strategy to build an opposition coalition capable of challenging the APC in the 2027 general elections.
The contrasting political paths taken by father and son have further intensified debate across Nigeria’s political space.
Responding to the defection, the former Vice President said his son’s decision was “entirely personal” and should not be interpreted as a reflection of his own political convictions.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms, Atiku stressed that democracy thrives on freedom of choice, even within families.
“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians,” he said.
Atiku reiterated his criticism of the APC-led Federal Government and reaffirmed his commitment to working with allies to present Nigerians with an alternative platform ahead of 2027.
