ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The All Progressives Congress (APC) has played down concerns that the defection of Abba Atiku, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, could unsettle the ruling party, describing such fears as misplaced and unfounded.
The party also commended Atiku Abubakar for what it termed a mature and democratic response, noting that he respected his son’s political independence and refrained from exerting influence over the decision.
The APC’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, made the party’s position known in an exclusive interview with Punch, amid speculations that Abba’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC could carry political undertones.
Duru said the former Vice President’s decision to publicly distance himself from his son’s move reflected democratic values and respect for individual choice.
“Family relationships are sensitive, and what happens within the family should be treated with caution,” Duru said.
“His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, has already made his position clear, and we respect that stance.”
He added that the former Vice President neither coerced his children nor imposed his political preferences on Nigerians, a posture he said deserved commendation.
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“We acknowledge and applaud his mature response, especially in a situation many might perceive as politically uncomfortable. Nigerians should respect both his position and the independent decision taken by his son,” he said.
Addressing insinuations in some quarters that Abba Atiku could be entering the ruling party as a political infiltrator, Duru dismissed the claims, insisting that the APC’s internal structure was resilient enough to withstand individual ambitions.
According to him, the party remains firmly anchored on discipline, hierarchy and collective leadership.
“The APC is not a one-man platform. It is a party built on strong institutional pillars. No individual can walk into this party and undermine its organisation or discipline,” he stated.
Duru said the APC remained open to Nigerians of diverse political backgrounds who identified with its ideology and governance direction.
His remarks followed a public statement by Atiku Abubakar, who described his son’s defection as a personal decision taken within the bounds of democratic freedom.
The former Vice President broke his silence on Thursday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, hours after Abba formally defected to the APC and pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
“The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal,” Atiku wrote.
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“In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect.”
He stressed that he neither coerced his children nor intended to impose his political views on Nigerians.
However, Atiku maintained his criticism of the APC-led Federal Government, linking the defection episode to what he described as governance failures.
“What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the economic and social hardships imposed on Nigerians,” he added.
Atiku said he remained committed to working with like-minded citizens to provide a credible political alternative capable of restoring hope and good governance.
Abba Atiku announced his defection on Thursday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, where he was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other APC leaders from the North-East.
He pledged to work for President Tinubu’s second-term bid, citing the administration’s policies and leadership direction.
He also directed members of his political platform, the Haske Atiku Organisation, established in 2022, to collapse their structure into the APC in support of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Subsequently, the group announced a change of name to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling its full alignment with the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election.