The All Progressives Congress has dismissed speculation that the defection of Abba Atiku could destabilise the ruling party, praising former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for what it described as a mature, hands-off response.
The APC also insisted that the ruling party remains too structured and disciplined to be infiltrated.
The party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, made the position known in an exclusive interview while reacting to the political debate and suspicion that followed the younger Atiku’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC.
Duru said the APC respected Atiku’s public stance on the matter, noting that the former Vice President had clearly distanced himself from his son’s political decision and refrained from imposing his views, a move he said reflected democratic values.
He said, “It’s very difficult to discuss father and son relationship. What happens in the family stays in the family. Again, I believe that His Excellency Atiku Abubakar has issued a statement in this respect.
He does not impose on his family, children, or Nigerians.
“We should hold him to that and respect the views that he has expressed, with respect to the fact that one of his own sons, instead of joining the ADC, decided to pitch his tent withthe APC.
