Mass Exodus Rocks Bauchi APC as Members Quit in Protest of Alleged Candidate Handpicking

A wave of discontent has swept through the All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State, sparked by the party's primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, with many members alleging that no direct primaries were conducted and candidates were instead handpicked through a process of "selection and imposition".

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This has led to a crisis within the party, resulting in mass resignations across various levels, and reports suggest that several local government chairmen may also announce their exit in the coming days.

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Prominent governorship aspirant Senator Shehu Buba Umar had earlier withdrawn from the race, citing plans to manipulate the results through imposition rather than a free and fair contest.

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

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Since the announcement of the results, several aspirants and stakeholders have formally resigned from the APC, citing a lack of transparency and violations of internal democracy, including the member representing Jama’are/Itas-Gadau federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Rabilu Bala Kashuri.

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Kashuri, who announced his resignation with immediate effect, tendered his withdrawal in a letter dated May 21, 2026, and addressed to APC chairman of Kashuri Ward in the Itas/Gadau Local Government Area, stating that the decision was made after careful reflection and that he valued the experience and friendships gained during his time in the APC.

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Another aspirant, Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, who sought to represent the Katagum federal constituency, resigned from the party, alleging that the primaries were marred by predetermined results, vote allocation, and gross violations of party guidelines, which undermined the principles of internal democracy upon which the APC was founded.

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In a letter to the Ward Chairman of the APC in Madangala Ward, Katagum Local Government Area, Aliyu wrote that he was convinced that the primary process was flawed and requested that the party remove his name from its register and records accordingly.

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Abubakar Dahuwa Abdulkadir, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yamman Katagum, also withdrew his membership from the party, describing the primaries as unfair, discriminatory, and contrary to democratic ethics, specifically alleging that the APC failed to conduct the planned direct primary election for the Azare/Madangala State Assembly constituency.