What happens when the most potential political defection is not that of a rival but a son? Would the move send a message that no press statement can counter? Would it fuel speculations about potential jiggery-pokery or just resignation at the plight of the father?
Abba Atiku, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In response, observers concluded that it is not a routine party switch. After all, the symbolism is profound, placing him directly opposite his father, a longtime APC antagonist.Father Atiku’s public response was measured. He affirmed a democrat’s belief in personal choice, even within the family. This posture, while constitutionally sound, carried a political cost, creating a narrative of internal dissent that opponents can weaponise.
The move raises an inevitable, if unfair, question about authority. If a leader’s vision cannot persuade his own household, critics ask, how can it persuade a nation? Politics often favours perception over principle.
Observers note that Abba is no political novice. He is an educated, deliberate figure. His choice suggests calculation, not impulse. This amplifies the intrigue: is it a genuine ideological shift, or a strategic gambit?
Some speculate about infiltration, a daring inside manoeuvre to weaken the APC from within. But this is not a Nollywood production. Moreover, such tactics typically rely on stealth, not the very public fanfare this move generated.
Electorally, the immediate impact is more optics than structure. Atiku remains a formidable opposition figure with a deep network. However, elections are won by compelling narratives as much as by machinery.
For now, the story is one of bloodlines and political lines intersecting. The defection of Abba may not change the ballot count, but it has already altered the political conversation, introducing a personal fracture into a very public contest.
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