In a stunning political blow to opposition stalwart Atiku Abubakar, his son has defected to the ruling party and declared that President Bola Tinubu cannot be defeated in the 2027 presidential election.

Abba Atiku’s move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) represents a significant embarrassment for the former Vice President, who is reportedly planning another presidential bid under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform.

The defection was formalized in Yola, Adamawa State, where Abba received his APC membership card at Gwadabawa Ward in Yola North Local Government Area. In remarks that will likely sting his father’s camp, he praised President Tinubu’s leadership and predicted the opposition’s defeat.

“No political party will be able to unseat President Tinubu in 2027,” Abba declared, adding that the President’s performance has earned widespread support among Nigerians.

He commended Tinubu for what he described as merit-based appointments that transcend ethnic and religious considerations, and cited the administration’s infrastructure development and economic reforms as reasons for his defection.

The development exposes a deep rift within the Atiku family as the elder statesman prepares for what would be his seventh attempt at the presidency. Atiku, 78, has been one of the most persistent opposition figures in Nigerian politics, having contested and lost the 2023 election to Tinubu under the PDP banner.

The family’s political allegiances now span three different parties. While Abba has joined the ruling APC, another son, Adamu Atiku, remains loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and serves as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development under Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri. Notably, neither son belongs to the ADC, the party their father is reportedly considering for his 2027 presidential ambitions.

Political analysts view Abba’s defection as potentially damaging to Atiku’s opposition credentials, particularly as the former Vice President seeks to position himself as a viable alternative to the current administration.

The public split within one of Nigeria’s most prominent political families underscores the complex dynamics shaping the country’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.