The 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 withdrawing from the APC governorship primary election in Bauchi State.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Umar, who was considered one of the frontline governorship aspirants in the APC, had pulled out of the primary election hours before the exercise, alleging violation of the party’s electoral guidelines and abuse of the country’s constitution.
The senator announced his resignation from the ruling party on Sunday, May 24, 2026, citing what he described as the absence of internal democracy, lack of fairness, marginalisation of genuine party members and growing disregard for the views of grassroots supporters within the APC.
His defection comes amid rising tension within the Bauchi State chapter of the APC following the conduct of the party’s primaries, which several aspirants and stakeholders have rejected.
Umar said his decision to join the PRP followed extensive consultations with political associates, youths, women groups, party stakeholders and supporters across Bauchi South Senatorial District and the state at large.
According to him, the PRP remains a political platform built on justice, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and people-oriented leadership.
He said the party also aligns with democratic values contained in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The lawmaker stressed that the time had come for patriotic leaders to unite and rescue the country from poverty, unemployment, insecurity, economic hardship and poor governance.
He said, “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.”
Umar also urged his supporters and political allies to join him in the PRP, saying the move would allow them to continue the collective struggle for good governance, social justice, accountability and sustainable development across Bauchi State.
Umar’s resignation came as another sitting senator from Bauchi State also left the APC.
The Senator representing Bauchi North, Samaila Kaila Dahuwa, resigned from the party after losing his return ticket and joined the PRP.
Also, the member representing Jama’are/Itas-Gadau Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rabilu Bala Kashuri, announced his resignation from the APC with immediate effect.
Kashuri, who sought re-election but failed to secure the party’s ticket, communicated his decision in a letter dated May 21, 2026, and addressed to the APC Chairman of Kashuri Ward in Itas/Gadau Local Government Area.
Ex-Deputy Gov Candidate Quits APC
Similarly, the 2023 deputy governorship candidate of the APC in Bauchi State and former member of the House of Representatives, Shehu Aliyu Musa, also resigned from the party.
Musa, who contested for the APC ticket for Bauchi South Senatorial District, disclosed his resignation in a letter to his ward chairman.
He cited “lack of purposeful leadership, unfair treatment of party members and lack of cohesion among leaders of the party” as reasons for leaving the APC.
Since the announcement of the APC governorship primary result in the state, several aspirants and stakeholders have formally resigned from the party, accusing its leadership of violating the principles of transparency and internal democracy.
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.
According to Daily Trust, some political groups also accused the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, and former Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, of allegedly supporting moves to impose former governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar as the governorship candidate.
The allegations have further deepened the crisis within the APC in the state, with more members openly rejecting the outcome of the primaries.
In a related development, a former Majority Leader of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and aspirant for Katagum Federal Constituency, Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, also resigned from the APC.
Aliyu alleged that the primaries were marred by predetermined results, vote allocation and gross violations of the party’s guidelines.
In a letter addressed to the APC Ward Chairman in Madangala Ward, Katagum Local Government Area, he said the process undermined the principles of internal democracy upon which the party was founded.
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.”
He added, “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, 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.
Abdulkadir alleged that the APC failed to conduct the planned direct primary election for the Azare/Madangala State Assembly Constituency.
Also, Sulaiman Sunusi Lalaye, who contested for the APC ticket to represent Bauchi Constituency in the State House of Assembly, announced his resignation from the party.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the APC in Makama/Sarkin Baki Ward, Bauchi Local Government Area, dated May 22, 2026, Lalaye said he had been a member of the APC since its formation but decided to leave because of persistent irregularities and injustice within the party.
Another party member, Rabi’u Abubakar Bishi, also announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the APC Chairman of Kangere/Turum Ward.
Bishi said he could no longer remain in the party because of an internal crisis and injustice.
He said, “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.”