The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State is grappling with a significant internal crisis marked by a wave of resignations and widespread discontent among its members. This upheaval follows the party's primaries conducted in anticipation of the 2027 general elections, with numerous aspirants and their supporters reportedly abandoning the party. The core of the dissatisfaction stems from serious allegations of injustice, the imposition of candidates, and a blatant disregard for internal democracy within the party's leadership.

Several party stakeholders and aspirants across Bauchi State have openly accused the APC leadership of sidestepping due process during the primaries for governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly positions. Many aggrieved members contend that no direct primaries were actually held in the state. Instead, they insist that candidates were merely handpicked through a process described as “Selection and imposition,” rather than a genuine democratic exercise. This crisis has triggered mass resignations at various levels of the party, with indications that even several local government chairmen may soon follow suit.

The controversy surrounding the primaries began even before their conclusion, with some aspirants expressing fears of a compromised process. Senator Shehu Buba Umar, an APC governorship aspirant, had previously withdrawn from the race, citing alleged plans for manipulation and imposition rather than a free and fair contest. Furthermore, several political groups have accused prominent figures like the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and former Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, of allegedly backing efforts to impose former governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 elections, among other candidates.

Since the announcement of the primary results, a number of aspirants and stakeholders have formally resigned from the APC, consistently pointing to a lack of transparency and violations of internal democracy as their reasons. Among the notable departures is Hon. Rabilu Bala Kashuri, the member representing the Jama’are/Itas-Gadau federal constituency in the House of Representatives. Kashuri, who sought re-election but was unsuccessful, tendered his resignation with immediate effect in a letter dated May 21, 2026. He stated that his decision, made after careful reflection, was the best step for his political future, expressing appreciation for his time in the APC but holding no ill will toward the party.

Similarly, Hon. Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, an aspirant for the Katagum Federal Constituency, also resigned from the party. He alleged that the primaries were tainted by predetermined results, vote allocation, and gross violations of party guidelines, which he believed undermined the foundational principles of internal democracy within the APC. In his resignation letter to the Ward Chairman of the APC in Madangala Ward, Katagum Local Government Area, Aliyu requested the removal of his name from the party’s register, citing his conviction that the process was flawed.

Other prominent figures who have withdrawn their membership include Hon. Abubakar Dahuwa Abdulkadir, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yamman Katagum. He criticized the primaries as unfair, discriminatory, and contrary to democratic ethics, specifically alleging that the party failed to conduct the planned direct primary election for the Azare/Madangala State Assembly constituency. Hon. Sulaiman Sunusi Lalaye, an aspirant for the Bauchi Constituency in the State House of Assembly, also announced his resignation in a letter dated May 22, 2026. Lalaye, a long-time member, attributed his departure to persistent irregularities and injustice within the party.

The exodus continued with reports of Sani Muhammad Night, a former aspirant for the Dass Constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, defecting from the party. Hon. Rabi’u Abubakar Bishi also resigned, citing internal crises and injustice that he could no longer tolerate, emphasizing his commitment to principles of good governance. Mohammed Bakoji Maiwada, in a letter to the APC Ward Chairman of Kukadi/Gundari Ward, Misau Local Government Area, explained his departure was prompted by primaries characterized by a lack of transparency, exclusion of genuine members, imposition of candidates, and deep internal divisions, all of which undermined internal democracy.

Further intensifying the crisis, the Bauchi Progressives Forum formally rejected the governorship primary results announced by the APC committee, asserting that no election actually took place anywhere in the state. In a statement, the forum described the announced results as “fictitious” and “an insult” to the people of Bauchi. They alleged that governorship aspirants were pressured to step down in favor of former governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar, rather than participating in a credible direct primary election, challenging the party to produce evidence of voting. The forum clarified their objection was not to Abubakar’s emergence but to the lack of a transparent process.

Amidst the escalating political tensions, supporters of Senator Shehu Buba Umar urged him to leave the APC and join the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) to pursue his governorship ambition, alleging manipulation against him. In response to the widespread disaffection, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and an APC leader in the state, appealed for calm. Speaking to journalists, Prof. Pate urged unsuccessful aspirants to remain steadfast and support the party’s candidates, maintaining that the APC had conducted a peaceful, transparent, and successful primary that should be celebrated.

Conversely, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) seized the opportunity to invite aggrieved APC members to join the APM in their pursuit of justice and fairness. During an APM event, Governor Mohammed described his party as a rapidly growing political force and accused the APC-led Federal Government of pressuring opposition politicians, urging security agencies to remain neutral. He emphasized the political struggle as one for freedom, development, and democratic participation.