Abba Abubakar, son of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027. The move drew a blunt response from a rival party official, who said it is time for Atiku to step aside.

Abba is the founder and chairman of the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, a political mobilisation and support platform. He has defected to the All Progressives Congress and unveiled a plan to mobilise support for Tinubu across all six geopolitical zones. Part of that plan is a proposed march of two million people.

Theo Abu Agada, Director of New Media and Strategic Communications for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, called the defection a bad look for Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress. In a post on X, Agada wrote: “A very bad optics. AA should give up his ambition at this point.”

Atiku remains a strong contender in the 2027 race and has been a steady critic of the Tinubu administration. He has repeatedly accused the president of causing hunger in Nigeria.