THIS DAWN — Within the space of two weeks, two of Atiku’s children made contrasting political moves—one joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and another defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The political atmosphere in Nigeria has been stirred by recent developments involving the children of former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The moves have sparked debate over the significance of family decisions in national politics.
Fathima Abubakar Joins ADC
On January 5, 2026, Atiku’s first daughter, Dr. Fathima Abubakar, formally decamped to the ADC from APC.
Despite the symbolic weight of her move, the ruling APC and its allied commentators largely ignored the development.
Political observers noted that the silence suggested that APC did not consider her defection politically consequential.
Abba Abubakar Defects to APC
In contrast, the APC celebrated loudly when Atiku’s son, Abba Abubakar, joined the party two weeks later.
According to a report by This Dawn, Abba was received by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and APC National Vice Chairman (North East) Mustafa Salihu.
Abba announced that his political group, formerly known as Atiku Haske Organisation, would now be renamed Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation.
He also pledged to mobilize support for President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.
Atiku’s Response
Reacting to his son’s defection, Atiku emphasized that Abba’s decision was “entirely personal” and did not reflect his own political stance.
He reiterated his commitment to opposing APC’s governance.
He cited economic hardship, inflation, and insecurity as failures of the current administration.
Atiku stressed that he would not coerce his children—or Nigerians—into political alignment, framing the matter as a family’s internal differences rather than a national issue.
Public Reactions
Citizens and commentators mocked APC’s selective reactions:
- Double Standards: APC ignored Fathima’s move to ADC but celebrated Abba’s defection to APC.
- Diversion Tactics: Critics argue that APC is using family matters to distract from pressing national issues such as poverty, unemployment, and insecurity.
- Political Noise: Social media users described APC’s celebration as “noise-making”.
They insisting that Nigerians are more concerned with governance failures than with Atiku’s family affairs.
Implications
- For APC: The ruling party’s celebration of Abba’s defection highlights its sensitivity to Atiku’s continued relevance as an opposition figure.
- For Atiku: His calm response reinforces his democratic stance, respecting personal choices while maintaining his opposition to APC’s policies.
- For Nigerians: The masses remain focused on economic survival and governance, not on the personal affiliations of politicians’ children.
The contrasting moves by Atiku Abubakar’s children—Fathima to ADC and Abba to APC—have become fodder for political theatrics.
While APC amplifies Abba’s defection as a symbolic win, critics argue that such family matters are irrelevant to Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
Ultimately, the real issue remains the performance of the APC government, not the personal choices of Atiku’s family members.
