Abba Atiku Abubakar has declared support for President Tinubu and vowed to deliver Adamawa for the APC in the 2027 general election
Atiku’s Son Backs Tinubu, Vows to Deliver Adamawa for APC in 2027
Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to deliver Adamawa State, his father’s traditional political base, to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Abba made the declaration on Friday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja while unveiling the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation (HBTO), a political mobilisation platform he founded to galvanise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The event also featured the launch of the organisation’s subsidised transportation initiative, beginning with the deployment of 10 luxury buses in the Federal Capital Territory.
The declaration is politically significant given that his father, Atiku Abubakar, is the African Democratic Congress (ADC)’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, setting up a striking political contrast between the two family members ahead of the polls.
Addressing the controversy surrounding his decision to support his father’s political rival, Abba said his alignment with Tinubu was a personal decision informed by political conviction rather than family considerations.
The HBTO founder, who was accompanied by leaders of the organisation, acknowledged that his political position could attract public scrutiny because of his relationship with the former Vice-President.
“I recognise that political decisions, particularly those that differ from the positions of individuals with whom one shares personal and family relationships, often attract considerable public attention,” Abubakar stated.
“However, political conviction is a matter of personal judgment, conscience, and the freedom of every individual to make independent choices. My decision to establish and lead the HBTO is a deliberate political choice made with a firm belief in the direction we have chosen.”
He argued that democratic principles allow individuals to make political choices independently, irrespective of their family backgrounds or personal relationships.
“Democracy is strengthened when individuals are free to make independent political choices, engage in constructive dialogue, and support the leadership and political platforms they believe best represent their aspirations. It is within this spirit that HBTO was established,” he said.
Explaining the organisation’s support for Tinubu, Abba highlighted policies and programmes of the current administration which he said informed his decision to align with the ruling party.
Among the initiatives he identified were the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), investments in national infrastructure, increased statutory allocations to state governments and transportation support interventions.
He maintained that political support should translate into practical assistance for citizens, rather than remain limited to endorsements and campaign declarations.
As part of that commitment, he unveiled an initial fleet of 10 luxury buses under the HBTO transportation support scheme, which will begin operations in Abuja before being extended to other parts of the country.
“As part of our commitment to complementing the President’s reform agenda with practical interventions, the HBTO is introducing a transportation support initiative through the initial provision of ten luxury buses,” Abubakar announced.
“Every state will have five or six buses as we expand. This initiative is designed to ease transportation challenges, reduce the burden of commuting on ordinary citizens, and demonstrate practical support.”
Beyond the transportation scheme, Abba disclosed plans for a nationwide mobilisation exercise, including a proposed two-million-man march across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, beginning in Abuja.
He also reaffirmed the organisation’s planned political collaboration with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, particularly in efforts to secure electoral support for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State.
According to him, HBTO is already activating its political structures in Rivers State ahead of a mobilisation exercise scheduled for the following week.
The Adamawa question, however, emerged as one of the major highlights of the media interaction, with reporters asking whether his organisation had the political reach and grassroots structure to secure his father’s home state for the APC.
Abba responded emphatically, expressing confidence in his group’s ability to achieve the objective.
“Yes, yes, yes. We are going to deliver Adamawa State,” he told reporters.
The HBTO chairman also rejected suggestions that his support for Tinubu amounted to an attempt to undermine his father’s political ambition, insisting that his political activities predated his latest alignment with the APC.
He recalled supporting his father during the 2019 and 2023 presidential election campaigns but said his current position reflected his assessment of the policies and direction of the Tinubu administration.
“I’ve always supported my father since I started acting in politics, and I supported him because of what he has done for the country. But I believe that whenever a government comes out with policies that will help the people, I will join them,” he said.
“It’s not just because it’s my father. I don’t think I am antagonising him; I simply believe in the current government’s policies and the reforms taking place.”
Abba also expressed appreciation to the APC leadership, party members and grassroots mobilisation structures for welcoming his organisation, as it begins preparations for the 2027 general elections.
