The All Progressives Congress has dismissed speculation that Abba Atiku’s defection will destabilise the ruling party, praising former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his mature, hands-off response. The All Progressives Congress has dismissed speculation that the defection of Abba Atiku could destabilise the ruling party, praising former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for what it described as a mature, hands-off response.
The APC also argued that the ruling party is too structured and disciplined to be infiltrated.
In an exclusive interview with The Punch, the party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, addressed the political debate and suspicion surrounding Atiku’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Duru stated that the APC respected Atiku’s public stance on the issue, noting that the former vice president had clearly distanced himself from his son’s political decision and refrained from imposing his own views, which he said reflected democratic values.
He stated, “It is challenging to discuss the father-son relationship. What happens in the family remains within the family. Again, I believe His Excellency Atiku Abubakar has made a statement in this regard.
He does not impose upon his family, children, or Nigerians.
“We should hold him accountable and respect his views, particularly given that one of his own sons chose to join the APC rather than the ADC.
“We commend him, as always, for his mature response to what many may consider to be adversarial to his interests, and we hope that Nigerians will respect his views on this defection, as well as the views of his son, who has decided to join the APC rather than the ADC.”
Duru dismissed speculation that Abba Atiku was entering the ruling party as a mole, insisting that the APC’s internal discipline and organisational structure were strong enough to withstand any individual influence.
“We welcome all points of view, all types of people who have witnessed the overwhelming machine that the APC represents. One person can’t enter the APC and disrupt the organisation and discipline for which the APC is known.
“APC is a political party founded on several pillars. One such pillar is based on discipline, the other on hierarchy, and, most importantly, on providing leadership at the party level as well as a vehicle for ushering in a Nigeria that we can all be proud of,” he stated.
Duru’s remarks followed the People’s Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate’s public distancing from his son’s defection, describing it as a personal decision.
Atiku broke his silence on Thursday through his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, hours after Abba formally defected from the PDP to the APC and promised to work for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He wrote, “My son Abba Abubakar’s decision to join the APC is entirely personal.” Such choices are neither unusual nor alarming in a democracy, even when family and politics intersect.
“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I will never coerce Nigerians.”
However, the former vice president reiterated his criticism of the APC-led federal government, linking the development to what he called governance failures.
“What truly concerns me is the APC’s poor governance and the severe economic and social hardships it has inflicted on our people.
He continued, “I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and provide Nigerians with a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress.”
Abba announced his defection on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, where he was greeted by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, and other APC leaders from the North-East.
He pledged to support President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid, citing Senator Barau’s leadership style and the Tinubu administration’s policies.
He also directed members of his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, which was established in 2022, to join the APC in support of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Following the defection, the group announced that it had been renamed the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, indicating full support for President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
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