The All Progressives Congress in Jigawa State is grappling with a deepening internal crisis as a wave of high profile defections threatens to weaken the party’s structure, cohesion, and electoral strength ahead of future contests.
The growing unrest within the party has been widely linked to allegations of poor internal management and the marginalisation of key stakeholders under the leadership of Governor Umar Namadi, whose style of governance has come under increasing scrutiny from within party ranks.
Political observers trace the origins of the crisis to a strained relationship between the governor and his political benefactor, former governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, as well as his financial backer, Isa Gerawa. Although both figures remain within the party, sources indicate lingering resentment over what is perceived as their exclusion from critical decision making processes, creating a quiet but consequential power struggle at the top.
This internal rift has reportedly triggered factional alignments and widened cracks across the party’s base, raising concerns among analysts that the unresolved tensions could significantly undermine party unity and affect its performance in upcoming elections.
The crisis has now manifested in a series of high profile defections involving former lawmakers, party executives, and influential grassroots mobilisers, dealing a major blow to the party’s political machinery in the state.
Among the most prominent defectors are former senators Sabo Nakudu, who represented Jigawa South West between 2015 and 2023, and Muhammad Ubali Shitu, a longtime ally of the governor who served in the Senate from 2015 to 2019. Nakudu’s defection carries symbolic weight, as he had previously contested the governorship ticket against Namadi. His relationship with Badaru reportedly deteriorated after the former governor backed Namadi during the primaries, creating political tensions that appear to have resurfaced in the current crisis.
The exit of former party chairmen has further underscored the depth of the turmoil. Ado Sani Kiri, who led the party between 2014 and 2019 and also served as a commissioner and member of the House of Representatives, has left alongside Aminu Keskes, who chaired the party from 2019 to 2023 and previously served as Gumel Local Government chairman and ALGON chairman.
Also among those who have exited is Bala Usman Chamo, a former Social Investment Programme coordinator and Dutse Local Government chairman, widely regarded as a key grassroots organiser. His departure, along with others, is seen as a significant loss given their influence across multiple political blocs in the state.
The crisis has also extended into the governor’s inner circle, with several serving aides resigning their positions and exiting the party. Two special advisers have stepped down, including one reportedly preparing to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives under the opposition African Democratic Congress. In addition, six senior special assistants and two special assistants have resigned, all citing dissatisfaction with the current direction of the party.
One of the most notable departures is that of Zakari Kafin Hausa, a former senior special assistant who played a central role in organising Namadi’s campaign and mobilising support that contributed to his emergence as governor. His defection is widely viewed as a clear indication of growing cracks within the governor’s core support base.
Perhaps most concerning for the party’s future is the erosion of its grassroots structure, following the defection of at least 17 former local government chairmen. These figures are considered critical to grassroots mobilisation, voter outreach, and electoral coordination, and their exit raises serious questions about the party’s ability to maintain its dominance at the local level.
With internal divisions widening and key figures continuing to exit, the crisis in Jigawa APC now presents a significant test of leadership and cohesion, with implications that could reshape the state’s political landscape ahead of the next election cycle.
Discussion about this post