Former Vice President and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has stated that his son’s decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was made independently.
Atiku was reacting to reports that his son, Abba Abubakar, had left the PDP for the ruling APC, where he reportedly vowed to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Reacting in a statement, Atiku said: “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. As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians.
“What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people.
“I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress.”