When Obasanjo’s Son Backed Buhari Against His Father’s Wish

According to Ireporter Online, Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has officially endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027. The announcement, which broke on Thursday night, has attracted significant attention due to the historic political rivalry between Tinubu and Atiku, who were once political allies.

Known widely as Abba, Atiku’s son also declared his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He further instructed members and coordinators of the Haske Atiku Organisation, a political group that mobilized support for his father during the 2023 elections, to align with the APC and back Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

In his statement, Abba said, “I am formally announcing my exit from my former party and my decision to join the APC. With this development, I will work to actualize the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.”

Political analysts have described the move as a reminder that politics often transcends family ties, echoing a similar episode in 2019 when Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, endorsed Muhammadu Buhari despite his father’s opposition. At that time, Olujonwo highlighted what he considered key achievements of the Buhari administration and urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to support the government’s development initiatives.

Observers note that such endorsements underscore the complex and often unpredictable nature of Nigerian politics, where personal convictions and political strategy sometimes outweigh family loyalty.