BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The unresolved internal crisis tearing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State apart has further worsened as prominent chieftains and former governorship and legislative aspirants have dumped the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest development has heightened concerns over the party’s internal cohesion, particularly coming at a time when the APC is expected to consolidate its structures and reconcile aggrieved members ahead of general elections.
Among the prominent figures in the party that recently resigned included; former deputy governor of the State, Alhaji Sagir Aminu Saleh; former two-time APC governorship aspirant, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin; and Hon. Sunusi Aliyu Kunde, a close associate of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, among others.
There are also indications that other prominent party members, including Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu, popularly known as ‘Raba Gardama’, may be on his way out of the party, although this could not be independently confirmed.
The latest 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, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
Information pieced together indicated that aggrieved members have repeatedly accused the party leadership of injustice, lack of internal democracy and alleged imposition of candidates during its primaries for the 2027 elections.
Sagir Aminu 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 APC membership in a letter dated August 19, 2026.
In the letter which was addressed to the APC chairman of Katagum Local Government Area through the party chairman of Matsango Ward, Azare, Saleh cited personal reasons for his resignation.
The letter stated; “I write to formally notify you of my resignation from APC due to my personal reason. I would like to thank all the APC party members for the support they showed me while in the party”.
Saleh’s resignation is considered significant because of his political influence and longstanding connections within the Katagum political establishment.
Similarly, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a two-time APC governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, announced his resignation from the party.
Jibrin, in a letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC chairman of Nasarawa/Bakin Kasuwa Ward in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area, said his resignation and withdrawal of support for the party would take immediate effect.
He attributed his decision to what he described as “brazen injustice” and the alleged imposition of candidates without regard for the views of party members.
“I came to this conclusion due mainly to the brazen injustice and imposition of candidates for elective offices with no regards to party members in Bauchi State. The views of our supporters and constituents are apparently of no consequence,” he stated.
Jibrin further said he took the decision after consultations with his supporters, friends and associates, who he said endorsed his decision to leave the APC.
According to him; “After an interaction with my supporters, friends, and associates, my decision for exiting the APC was endorsed; that, it is the best option in the circumstances”.
Jibrin has been one of the most vocal critics of the APC’s choice of former Bauchi State governor, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar, SAN, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Ahead of the party’s governorship primary, he had opposed the former governor’s emergence, alleging that the process was being manipulated in favour of a particular aspirant.
At a press conference held before the primary, Jibrin also warned APC stakeholders, including former governor Isa Yuguda and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, against what he described as attempts to “short-change” Bauchi people through the imposition of an unpopular candidate, stressing that the former governor had been “tried, tested, and rejected” by the electorate in the 2019 election.
Speaking via telephone with our correspondent, 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 Ahmed Tinubu or Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar at the polls, stressing that both have failed to demonstrate sufficient commitment to the welfare of the people.
Jibrin, a prominent politician who held several positions in the CPC, APC and other political parties, served as National Auditor of the CPC, National Auditor of the APC Interim National Executive Committee, Sole Administrator of the Action Peoples Party (APP) in Imo State and Sole Administrator of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Adamawa State.
He was also Secretary of the ANPP Congress in Edo State, Secretary of the APC Primary Election Committee in Ekiti State, Chairman of the CPC Congresses Committee in Yobe State and one-time caretaker chairman of the APC in Gombe State.
He served as a member of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Council in 2015 and was reportedly a signatory to documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2013 merger process that produced the APC.
Another prominent APC member, Hon. Sunusi Aliyu Kunde, also resigned from the party via a letter dated August 10, 2026 and addressed to the APC chairman of Beti Ward in Misau Local Government Area, Kunde.
He said he was resigning from the party with “a heavy heart”.
His resignation letter read in part; “I hereby forward my letter of resignation from the All Progressives Congress party (APC) with a heavy heart. While I thank you and your exco for their unreserved support since our days of CPC and APC struggles. Please accept my warm regards”.
The resignations come against the backdrop of earlier departures by several APC aspirants and stakeholders following the party’s primaries.
Among those who previously resigned was the member representing Jama’are/Itas-Gadau Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Rabilu Bala Kashuri.
Kashuri announced his resignation in a letter dated May 21, 2026, saying his decision followed careful reflection and consultations.
Similarly, an aspirant for Katagum Federal Constituency, Hon. Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, resigned from the party, alleging that the primaries were characterised by predetermined results, vote allocation and violations of party guidelines.
Another chieftain of the party, Hon. Abubakar Dahuwa Abdulkadir, the Sarkin Yamman Katagum, also withdrew his membership, alleging that the party failed to conduct the planned direct primary election for the Azare/Madangala State Assembly constituency.
Other members reported to have left the party include Hon. Sulaiman Sunusi Lalaye, Sani Muhammad Night, Hon. Rabi’u Abubakar Bishi and Mohammed Bakoji Maiwada.
In a related development, the Bauchi Progressives Forum has also rejected the APC governorship primary results, alleging that no election took place across the state.
In a statement by its chairman, Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi, the forum described the announced results as “fictitious”, alleging that governorship aspirants were pressured to step down in favour of former Governor Abubakar.
The allegations have, however, been rejected by party supporters who maintain that the APC remains strong in the state.
The party recently announced that it had received thousands of new members from various political parties under the leadership of Faruk Mustapha during a reception held at the Azare Township Stadium. However, the absence of some key party figures at the event has raised questions about the figures claimed by the state party’s chairman, Alhaji Hassan Mohammed Tilde.
However, the event was marked by the absence of several prominent APC stakeholders, including former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, governorship aspirants Alhaji Nura Manu Soro and Bala Maijama’a Wunti, former governor Isa Yuguda and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
The absence of the influential figures was not officially explained, but some party members attributed it to unresolved disagreements within the party, particularly over the conduct of the primaries and the emergence of candidates.
Some aggrieved members have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and other national leaders to intervene and create a platform for dialogue among the various factions and aspirants.
They warned that failure to address the grievances could undermine the gains recorded by the party and weaken its chances of consolidating support ahead of the 2027 elections.
This was as political observers observed that the influx of new members on one hand and the resignation of prominent stakeholders on the other present a mixed picture for the APC in Bauchi.
They noted that while the reported defections into the party could strengthen its grassroots structure, the continued departure of influential politicians and supporters could pose a serious challenge if the leadership fails to resolve the underlying disagreements.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the ability of the APC leadership to reconcile its aggrieved members and unite its major stakeholders may ultimately determine whether the party can translate its reported membership gains into electoral success in Bauchi State.
Speaking on the development, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Shehu Dauda Mohammed, said it was normal for political parties to experience occasional disagreements and challenges.
Mohammed further said that everyone has the right to their own opinion, saying; “If someone is dissatisfied with the proceedings in any political party, they are free to leave and pursue their ambitions elsewhere as they deem fit”.
He further said the party’s reconciliation committee had reached out to some of the aggrieved members as part of efforts to resolve their concerns and restore unity within the party.
According to Mohammed; “Whenever someone pursues an objective, the outcome is either success or failure. In the APC, we had about nine people seeking the governorship ticket, yet only one person left the party before the primaries.
“As I speak, with the campaign season about to begin, the only aspirant who has left is Senator Shehu Buba Umar. Among those who left the APC was someone who played a key role in the struggle to establish the party itself. It is hardly wise to abandon a house you helped build with your own hands, leaving it for others, simply because a personal ambition was not realised,” he stated.
