Atiku’s Son Dumps Father’s Political Camp, Launches Tinubu Re-Election Campaign

Abba Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has unveiled an ambitious nationwide mobilisation plan for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, further highlighting the political differences between him and his father, who is seeking to return to the presidency under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Abba announced his support for Tinubu on Friday, October 30, 2026, in Abuja, where he unveiled the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation (HBTO), a political platform established to mobilise support for the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the next general elections.

As part of the organisation’s strategy, he announced plans to organise a two-million-man mobilisation march across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, beginning in Abuja.

He also unveiled plans to provide 10 luxury buses to ease transportation difficulties, with the initiative expected to commence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before expanding to other parts of the country.

The development has attracted political attention because Abba’s father, Atiku, is a leading opposition figure and presidential aspirant under the ADC, which is preparing to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Speaking at the press conference, Abba described his decision to support Tinubu as a personal conviction, insisting that political choices should not be dictated by family relationships.

He acknowledged that his decision could generate public interest because of his father’s political position but maintained that every individual had the right to make independent political decisions.

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According to him, democracy thrives when citizens are allowed to exercise their political convictions without being compelled to follow the choices of relatives or associates.

He said the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation was established to build a structured, inclusive and nationally coordinated movement capable of mobilising support for the President, taking government policies beyond political gatherings and engaging ordinary Nigerians at the grassroots.

Abba explained that the organisation would focus on expanding its structures across the country, working with other political groups and communicating the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration to communities.

Explaining the reasons for his support, Abba said his decision was influenced by what he described as the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms and development policies.

He specifically mentioned the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides interest-free loans to eligible students, investments in road and transportation infrastructure, increased allocations to state governments through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the N70,000 transportation support for workers.

He argued that these interventions demonstrated the administration’s efforts to address longstanding economic and structural challenges facing the country.

Abba also said his experience in business had given him an opportunity to assess the government’s economic policies and their implications for businesses and ordinary Nigerians.

He maintained that his support was based on his assessment of the administration’s direction rather than his relationship with the former Vice-President.

As part of the organisation’s immediate plans, Abba announced that 10 luxury buses would be deployed to ease transportation challenges, beginning in Abuja before extending to other locations.

He said the initiative was intended to demonstrate that support for the Tinubu administration should go beyond political campaigns and translate into practical interventions that benefit Nigerians.

On the political mobilisation strategy, he disclosed that the proposed two-million-man march would cover all six geopolitical zones, with Abuja serving as the starting point.

He also declared that the organisation would work towards securing the FCT and Rivers State for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Abba said the group was aligning with the political objectives of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who has also pledged to mobilise support for Tinubu in the two territories.

He further announced plans for a major mobilisation exercise in Rivers State during the first week of November, adding that the organisation had already activated structures across the country.

The HBTO chairman said the organisation was committed to building a disciplined grassroots network capable of engaging voters, communicating government policies and mobilising support ahead of the election.

He also called for greater participation by young Nigerians in the political process, arguing that individuals should be free to support political leaders and parties based on their convictions.

Abba’s latest political move follows his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in January 2026, when he publicly declared support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

At the time, he directed coordinators and members of his former political organisation, the Haske Atiku Organisation, to align with the APC and support the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

His latest announcement, however, marks a fresh phase of his political mobilisation efforts with the unveiling of the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation.

Meanwhile, Atiku had previously described his son’s decision to join the APC as a personal political choice, maintaining that he would not compel his children to share his political beliefs.

The former Vice-President has continued to pursue his political ambition through the ADC, positioning himself among the opposition figures seeking to challenge Tinubu in 2027.

The emerging political differences between father and son have added another dimension to the political calculations ahead of the next general elections.

With the proposed two-million-man march, the deployment of 10 luxury buses and plans to establish grassroots structures nationwide, Abba is seeking to build a significant mobilisation platform for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Whether the organisation can translate its ambitious plans into measurable electoral support remains to be seen as political parties and campaign groups intensify preparations for the 2027 contest.