The fact that prominent political families in Nigeria are not always unified along party lines has once again been brought to light by the recent defection of Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Abba Atiku is now politically opposed to his father, who is organizing an opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with the goal of overthrowing President Bola Tinubu. Atiku has sworn allegiance to both the APC and the President.
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Even though Atiku Abubakar is still one of the most powerful opposition leaders in the nation, his son’s choice puts them on different sides of Nigeria’s developing political struggle in advance of the general elections in 2027.
The defection of Abba Atiku is not unprecedented. A number of Nigerian politicians have publicly supported parties that differ from that of their parents or close relatives over the years.
The most recent defection has rekindled public discussion on the independence of political choices inside aristocratic families, even though the list of such lawmakers is not all-inclusive.
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Samuel Goomsu Ikoku versus Alvan Ikoku
In 1957, Samuel Goomsu Ikoku, a radical socialist politician on the Action Group platform, ran against his father, the well-known Alvan Ikoku, whose picture appeared on the Nigerian N10 banknote, in the Eastern House of Assembly election under the First Republic. A precedent for this kind of political phenomenon—a son and father from opposite political parties—was established when the younger Ikoku defeated his father, who was a member of the United National Independence Party.
Bukola Saraki versus Olushola Saraki
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Following years of political cooperation, former governor Bukola Saraki and his father, Olushola Saraki, parted ways in 2011 during a political struggle for Kwara’s governorship following Nigeria’s return to democracy. While his father moved to the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria to assist his daughter Gbemisola Saraki’s run for governor, the former Senate president maintained the Peoples Democratic Party structure in order to back his candidate, Abdulfatah Ahmed. But the younger Saraki camp prevailed.
Bello El-Rufai versus Nasir El-Rufai
Shortly after the Senate vetoed his ministerial candidacy, former governor Nasir El-Rufai, a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, left the party for the Social Democratic Party. Later, he joined the African Democratic Congress alliance, joining Peter Obi (of the Labour Party) and other unhappy politicians who defected from the PDP for the ADC. Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and Mr. El-Rufai’s eldest son, is still an APC member.
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Blessing Onyeche Onuh against David Mark
Both his daughter, Blessing Onuh, and former Senate President David Mark, a prominent member of the PDP who is currently an arrowhead in ADC, belong to competing political parties. His daughter is a member of the ruling party and serves as the House of Representatives’ representative for the Otukpo/Ohimini federal seat, while Mr. Mark is part of the coalition working to overthrow the APC.
Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu vs James Ibori
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Ibori-Suenu, the daughter of former Delta governor and PDP founding member James Ibori, is a member of the APC. Former PDP member Ms. Ibori-Suenu is a member of the House of Representatives.
Juwon Obasanjo versus Olusegun Obasanjo
In the 2019 presidential election, former President Olusegun Obasanjo supported the PDP candidate, but his son Juwon Obasanjo publicly backed and actively campaigned for former President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. In opposition to his father’s favored candidate, the younger Obasanjo joined the Buhari Campaign Organization and was named national coordinator of the Buhari Youth Organization.
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Ditan Okupe versus Doyin Okupe
Doyin Okupe, a PDP member and former spokesperson for Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, and his son Ditan Okupe were in different political camps in 2019. In the 2019 election, Mr. Okupe backed the PDP, but his son backed APC President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection.
