Mustapha Bala Dawaki, former Chief of Staff to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC.

Dawaki, a former member of the House of Representatives from Kano State, defected to the opposition party just a week after he lost the APC ticket for the 2027 election following a consensus decision.

Saifullahi Hassan, a media assistant to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a leader of the NDC and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, confirmed the development on Monday.

Hassan said the defection was formalized at Kwankwaso’s Kano Miller Rose residence.

“Today, Leader Kwankwaso welcomed Mustapha Bala Dawaki, who used to be the Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, to the NDC Kwankwasiyya,” Hassan disclosed on his official Facebook page.

The defection is coming at a time the NDC is trying to reach an agreement on which candidates to chose for different elective posts in Kano State.

It is still not certain if Dawaki will automatically receive a ticket to run for the position in the party.

Political tension has intensified in Bauchi State as Senator Shehu Bubs Umar, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) just days after stepping down from the APC governorship primary.

Buba, who was a leading contender for the governorship ticket, withdrew from the race shortly before the primary election. He said his decision was based on what he described as violations of party rules and the constitution. The senator officially announced his resignation on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

He cited “the absence of internal democracy, lack of fairness, marginalisation” of genuine party members, and what he described as growing disregard for grassroots supporters within the APC.

According to him, his move to PRP followed extensive consultations with political allies, youth groups, women’s groups, stakeholders, and supporters across Bauchi State.

He said PRP offers a platform built on “justice, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and people-oriented leadership”

Buba stressed that leaders must now come together to address national challenges such as poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and economic hardship.

“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,” Buba said.

He also urged his supporters to join him in PRP in order to continue the struggle for good governance and accountability in Bauchi State.

The political crisis did not end with Buba’s exit. Another senator from Bauchi North, Samaila Kaila Dahuwa, also resigned from the APC after losing his return ticket and moved to PRP.

In the House of Representatives, Hon. Rabilu Bala Kashuri also quit the APC after failing to secure the party’s ticket for re-election. He submitted his resignation letter on May 21, 2026, to his ward chairman.

Former deputy governorship candidate in 2023, Hon. Shehu Aliyu Musa, also left the APC. He said his resignation was due to “lack of purposeful leadership, unfair treatment of party members and lack of cohesion among leaders of the party.”

Since the APC governorship primaries were concluded, several other aspirants and party stakeholders have also resigned, accusing the process of lacking transparency and internal democracy.

Former House of Assembly majority leader and aspirant for Katagum Federal Constituency, Hon. Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, also resigned. He said the process was unfair and predetermined.

In his letter, he stated: “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.”

Other party members, including Hon. Abubakar Dahuwa Abdulkadir, also left the APC, describing the primaries as unfair and undemocratic.

Similarly, Hon. Sulaiman Sunusi Lalaye and Hon. Rabi’u Abubakar Bishi resigned, both citing injustice, internal crises, and irregularities within the party.

Many of the aggrieved members insisted that no proper direct primaries were conducted, claiming that candidates were imposed rather than elected through a democratic process.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has described his decision to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027 as driven by morality and development considerations.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, on Monday, Governor Adeleke made this revelation on Sunday after inspecting the ongoing construction of the Ibadan-Ile Ife-Ilesa Expressway, where he praised the President for supporting infrastructure projects in Osun State and the wider South-West region.

Adeleke said, “The endorsement transcends party affiliation and reflects the collective interest of Osun people and the Yoruba nation.”

He said President Tinubu deserved support as “our own son, father and leader”.

“I required no persuasion before publicly declaring support for the President’s re-election bid.
“I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him?” 

The governor stated that Osun people considered themselves fortunate to have one of their own leading the country, while also jokingly noting that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu might claim to be luckier.

Adeleke also commended the pace and quality of work on the Ibadan-Ile Ife-Ilesa Expressway, saying the reconstruction would improve transportation and economic activities across major towns in Osun State.

“I am elated at the speed and quality of work. The reconstruction will further widen and ease access to major centres of Osun State and complement my administration’s accelerated infrastructure deliveries across towns and villages,” he stated.

The governor disclosed that his administration had rehabilitated several federal roads since assuming office in 2022, while more than 300 kilometres of state roads had also been reconstructed across the state.

He appealed to the Federal Government to approve refunds for federal roads rehabilitated by the Osun State Government, while expressing appreciation for the approval of the Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo Road and the Gbongan-Akoda Road reconstruction projects.

Adeleke said he intended to formally request presidential approval for the reconstruction of the Osogbo-Ilesa Road, stressing that additional federal intervention would boost infrastructure development in the state.

The governor also declared that his administration would ensure free and fair elections in Osun State, insisting that democracy would prevail during the August 15 governorship election and beyond.