Defections Hit Bauchi APC As Shehu Buba, Other Aggrieved Aspirants Leave Party

Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba Umar, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) days after his withdrawal from the APC governorship primary election.

Buba, a frontline governorship contender in APC, withdrew his participation from the governorship primary hours before before the exercise, alleging violation of the party’s electoral guidelines and abuse of the country’s constitution.

The senator announced his decision on Sunday, May 24, 2026, citing the “absence of internal democracy, lack of fairness, marginalisation” of genuine party members, and increasing disregard for the opinions and aspirations of grassroots supporters within the APC.”

Buba said his decision to join PRP came after extensive consultations with political associates, youths, women groups, party stakeholders, and supporters across Bauchi South Senatorial District and Bauchi State at large.

He said PRP remains a political platform built on the principles of justice, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and people-oriented leadership, with strong commitment to the democratic values enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The lawmaker emphasised that the time has come for patriotic leaders to unite and rescue the country from poverty, unemployment, insecurity, economic hardship, and poor governance.

“Our people deserve better governance, better opportunities, and leadership that truly listens to their concerns. Politics should be about service to humanity, justice, development, and improving the living conditions of the masses,” Buba said.

He urged his supporters and political allies to join him in PRP to continue the collective struggle for good governance, social justice, accountability, and sustainable development across Bauchi State.

Meanwhile, another sitting Senator representing Bauchi North, Samaila Kaila Dahuwa, also resigned from the APC after losing his return ticket and joined the PRP.

Also, a member representing the Jama’are/Itas-Gadau federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Rabilu Bala Kashuri, announced his resignation from the APC with immediate effect.

Kashuri, an aspirant who sought re-election but failed to secure the party’s ticket, tendered his withdrawal in a letter dated May 21, 2026, and addressed to the APC Chairman of Kashuri Ward in the Itas/Gadau Local Government Area.

Similarly, the 2023 deputy governorship candidate and former member of the House Representative, Hon Shehu Aliyu Musa, also resigned from the APC.

Musa, who contested the APC ticket for the Bauchi South Senatorial District, disclosed his resignation from the party in a letter to the APC Ward chairman, citing “lack of purposeful leadership, unfair treatment of party members and lack of cohesion among leaders of the party,”

Since the announcement of the results of the APC gubernatorial primaries, several aspirants and stakeholders have formally resigned from the APC, citing a lack of transparency and violations of internal democracy.

Many political groups have also accused the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, and former Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, of allegedly backing efforts to impose former governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar as the governorship candidate.

In related development, former majority leader of Bauchi House of Assembly and aspirant for the Katagum Federal Constituency, Hon Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, resigned from the party, alleging that the primaries were marred by predetermined results, vote allocation, and gross violations of party guidelines.

According to him, the exercise undermined the principles of internal democracy upon which the APC was founded.

In a letter addressed to the Ward Chairman of the APC in Madangala Ward, Katagum Local Government Area, he wrote: “I write to formally notify you of my intention to resign my membership of the party (Membership No. APC 051203000049) in your ward, with immediate effect.”

“This decision follows recent developments regarding party activities, particularly the conduct of the 2026 primaries for various elective positions. After careful observation and review, I am convinced that the process was marred by predetermined results, the outright allocation of votes, and non-compliance with the guidelines for the conduct of said primaries.”

Another chieftain, Hon. Abubakar Dahuwa Abdulkadir, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yamman Katagum, also defected from the APC.

He described the primaries as unfair, discriminatory, and contrary to democratic ethics, alleging that the APC failed to conduct the planned direct primary election for the Azare/Madangala State Assembly constituency.

Hon. Sulaiman Sunusi Lalaye, an aspirant who contested the APC ticket to represent the Bauchi Constituency in the State House of Assembly, also announced his resignation from the APC.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the APC in Makama/Sarkin Baki Ward, Bauchi Local Government Area, dated May 22, 2026, Lalaye stated that although he had been a member of the party since its formation, he decided to leave due to what he described as persistent irregularities and injustice within the organisation.

Another party member, Hon. Rabi’u Abubakar Bishi, announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the APC Chairman of the Kangere/Turum Ward.

“I am writing to inform you of my decision to resign from the All Progressives Congress. I have taken this step due to internal crises and injustice, among other issues, which I can no longer bear. This resignation will enable me to remain committed to my principles of fighting for good governance in our state,” Bishi said

Many aggrieved members alleged that no direct primaries were conducted in the state, insisting that candidates were merely handpicked through what they described as “selection and imposition” rather than a democratic process. (Daily trust)