The All Progressives Congress has described as mature and democratic the response of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to his son’s defection to the ruling party, while dismissing concerns that the development could undermine its internal cohesion.
The party equally expressed confidence in its organisational strength, insisting that its structural framework remains impregnable to external manipulation.
The APC’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, stated this position during an interview while addressing the controversy surrounding Abba Atiku’s departure from the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to Duru, the ruling party acknowledges the elder Atiku’s public declaration that he would not interfere in his son’s political preferences, describing the stance as a reflection of true democratic principles.
“Family matters are essentially private. Nevertheless, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar has made his position clear through an official statement. He does not seek to control the political choices of his household or fellow citizens,” Duru explained.
“We must honour and appreciate the perspective he has articulated regarding his son’s decision to align with the APC rather than the ADC. His measured reaction to what some might view as contrary to his political interest deserves commendation. We equally trust that Nigerians will respect both his position and that of his son.”
Addressing suggestions in certain circles that Abba Atiku might be joining the APC with ulterior motives, Duru rejected such insinuations outright, highlighting the party’s institutional resilience.
“The APC welcomes diverse viewpoints and individuals who recognise the formidable political machinery we have built. No single individual possesses the capacity to infiltrate and destabilise the order and discipline that define our party,” he asserted.
“Our party rests on fundamental principles including discipline, respect for hierarchy, and a commitment to delivering quality leadership both internally and as a platform for advancing Nigeria’s development.”
Duru’s comments followed the public statement by the PDP’s 2023 presidential standard-bearer, who separated himself from his son’s political realignment, characterising it as an independent choice.
Atiku addressed the matter on Thursday through his verified social media handle, several hours after Abba officially left the PDP for the APC and declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in 2027.
“My son, Abba Abubakar’s decision to associate with the APC represents his personal choice. In democratic societies, such decisions are commonplace and unremarkable, even where family relationships and political loyalties converge,” the former Vice President stated.
“As someone committed to democratic values, I do not impose my convictions on my children, just as I would not impose them on the Nigerian people.”
The Turakin Adamawa, however, maintained his opposition to the APC-led Federal Government, attributing his stance to what he termed failures in governance.
“My primary concern remains the APC’s poor administration and the devastating economic and social difficulties it has brought upon our citizens,” he noted.
He further declared, “I remain committed to collaborating with other patriotic Nigerians to restore competent governance and provide our people with a genuine alternative that delivers relief, optimism, and advancement.”
Abba had formalised his defection on Thursday at the National Assembly premises in the Federal Capital Territory, where the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other APC stalwarts from the North-East zone, received him.
During the event, he pledged allegiance to President Tinubu’s second-term ambitions, citing admiration for Senator Barau’s leadership approach and the current administration’s programmes.
He subsequently instructed members of his political organisation, the Haske Atiku Organisation, established in 2022, to transfer their allegiance to the APC in furtherance of the President’s Renewed Hope initiative.