The political structure linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a drastic step against one of his sons, expelling him for attempting to redirect its support to a rival camp. Abba Atiku has been officially removed from the Atiku Haske Organisation following his public declaration for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Defiance and Immediate Expulsion
The crisis erupted after Abba Atiku, on Thursday, January 15, 2026, formally defected to the APC and declared support for President Tinubu. Following his move, he reportedly issued a directive to all coordinators and members within the Atiku Haske Organisation, instructing them to mobilise support for Tinubu and immediately join the ruling party.
This directive did not sit well with the group's leadership. In a swift response, the initiator and convener of the organisation, Hon. Mai Nagge Musa Bakari, issued a statement on Sunday, January 18, 2026, clarifying Abba's position and announcing his expulsion.
Hon. Bakari stated unequivocally that Abba Atiku has no locus or authority to decide for the group which political party or candidate to support in the upcoming 2027 general elections. He emphasised that Abba was neither the founder nor the originator of the Atiku Haske Organisation.
Group's Stance and Accusations Against Abba
The statement from the organisation revealed deeper issues. According to Hon. Bakari, Abba Atiku was merely invited to join the group and has never contributed financially to its activities. "He is the one who is subject to our regulations, and evidently, he has fallen short of expectations by our standards," the statement read.
More importantly, the group reaffirmed its political alignment, which is directly at odds with Abba's actions. The organisation disclosed that it had previously moved en masse from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Abba's directive to join the APC was therefore declared "contrary to our resolution, values, and principles."
The group declared Abba's directive null, void, and dead on arrival. It challenged him to create his own political organisation and sternly warned him to cease identifying himself as a member of the Atiku Haske Organisation.
Rebranding and Political Implications
This expulsion adds a new layer to Abba Atiku's political defection. Reports indicate that Abba has already renamed the political group from 'Atiku Haske Organisation' to 'Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation' to solidify his support for President Tinubu.
His move has, however, received praise from some quarters within the APC. Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin The expulsion underscores the deep political divisions within political families and structures in Nigeria, especially as the country begins to build momentum towards the 2027 presidential election. It also highlights the resistance within some groups originally allied to Atiku Abubakar against shifting support to his long-time political rival, President Bola Tinubu.
