Ex-Gwaram LG Chairman Zahraddeen Abubakar Resigns from APC

Zahraddeen Abubakar, former Chairman of Gwaram Local Government in Jigawa State, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing a departure from the party’s founding principles since its formation in 2013.

Mr Abubakar, a close ally of former Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, served as council chairperson during Badaru’s second term as Governor of Jigawa State. In a resignation letter dated February 28, addressed to the APC ward chairperson of Zandam Nagogo and copied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he formally communicated his decision.

He is expected to join the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and currently serves as Jigawa State Chairman of the National Association of Former Elected Local Government Chairmen (NALGON).

Abubakar was recently appointed a member of the APC Ward and Local Government Congress Screening Committee for Ogun State.

The resignation comes amid high-profile meetings between his political mentor, Mr Badaru, and opposition leaders in Jigawa State, which had sparked speculation about Badaru’s potential defection to the ADC. Mr Badaru met with Mustapha Lamido, the 2023 PDP governorship candidate and son of veteran politician Sule Lamido, along with other opposition figures.

However, Badaru stated that the meetings were intended to strengthen unity within the APC in Jigawa and across the North-west region ahead of the 2027 general election, while building support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.