Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State has reached a boiling point, with a former deputy governor, a two-time governorship aspirant, and thousands of supporters resigning from the party amid accusations of injustice, a lack of internal democracy, and the alleged imposition of candidates for the 2027 elections. The mass defection, which has deepened the party's internal rift ahead of the general elections, comes despite reconciliation efforts led by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to resolve grievances arising from the party's primaries.
The latest departures include a former deputy governor, Sagir Aminu Saleh; a former two-time APC governorship aspirant, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin; and Sunusi Aliyu Kunde, a close associate of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, among others. The aggrieved members have accused the party leadership of injustice, lack of internal democracy and alleged imposition of candidates during the primaries. Saleh, who served as deputy governor during the administration of former Governor Isa Yuguda and holds the traditional title of Majidadin Katagum, formally resigned his membership of the APC in a letter dated August 19, 2026. The letter, addressed to the APC chairman of Katagum Local Government Area through the party chairman of Matsango Ward, Azare, cited personal reasons for his decision.
Similarly, Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change and two-time APC governorship aspirant in the state, announced his resignation in a letter dated August 31, 2026. The letter was addressed to the APC chairman of Nasarawa/Bakin Kasuwa Ward in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area. Jibrin said his resignation and withdrawal of support for the party would take immediate effect, attributing his decision to what he described as "brazen injustice" and the alleged imposition of candidates without regard for party members. "I came to this conclusion due mainly to the brazen injustice and imposition of candidates for elective offices with no regard to party members in Bauchi State. The views of our supporters and constituents are apparently of no consequence," he stated. He said he decided after consultations with his supporters, friends and associates, who he said endorsed his decision to leave the APC.
Jibrin has been one of the most vocal critics of the APC's choice of former Bauchi State Governor, Muhammad Abubakar, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election. Following the party's governorship primary, he opposed the emergence of the former governor, alleging that the process was manipulated in favour of a particular aspirant. At a press conference held before the primary, Jibrin had warned APC stakeholders, including former governor Yuguda and Pate, against what he described as attempts to "short-change" Bauchi people through the imposition of an unpopular candidate. He alleged that Abubakar had been "tried, tested, and rejected" by the electorate in the 2019 election. Speaking by telephone with journalists after his resignation, Jibrin said he saw no compelling reason to remain in the APC, which he accused of failing to prioritise the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. He also said he would not support either President Bola Tinubu or Abubakar at the polls, alleging that both had failed to demonstrate sufficient commitment to the welfare of the people.
The wave of resignations is coming despite reconciliation efforts by the APC, including the state reconciliation committee led by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara. The committee held meetings with dissatisfied aspirants and urged them to support the party's candidate. However, the efforts appear to have failed to address the deep-seated grievances. Reports indicate that other prominent party members, including Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu, popularly known as Raba Gardama, may also leave the APC, although this could not be independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report. Earlier, House of Representatives member Rabilu Kashuri, Katagum federal constituency aspirant Tijjani Aliyu, and several other figures also left the APC. Aliyu said that the primaries had been predetermined and that the results were shaped through the allocation of votes and procedural violations. The Bauchi Progressives Forum also rejected the voting results: its chairman, Ibrahim Abdullahi, called the published figures fabricated.
The APC's Bauchi public relations secretary, Shehu Mohammed, has said that political differences were commonplace and that the party continued to engage with various groups. APC supporters insist that the party retains strong positions, citing an event in Azare where, they said, thousands of new members joined it. However, several prominent figures were absent from the event, including Tuggar, Wunti, former governor Isa Yuguda, and Dogara. Party sources linked their absence to dissatisfaction with the primary results. The mass defection in Bauchi is a significant blow to the APC's hopes of retaining the state in the 2027 elections. With prominent figures and thousands of supporters leaving the party, the APC faces an uphill battle to present a united front against the opposition. The party's internal crisis has deepened, and the road to 2027 looks increasingly uncertain.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments