Two serving senators from Bauchi State defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Redemption Party this week [1].
The shift signals a significant fracture within the ruling party in Bauchi State, potentially altering the political landscape ahead of the 2027 governorship race [3].
Senator Shehu Buba (Bauchi South) and Senator Samaila Dahuwa (Bauchi North) left the APC following the party's primary elections in May 2026 [1, 4]. The move comes as Buba secured the PRP governorship ticket for the 2027 Bauchi State election [2, 3].
Sources said the defections were driven by allegations of injustice and a lack of internal democracy during the APC primaries [5]. Specifically, some party members pointed to the imposition of candidates as a primary cause for their departure from the APC [5].
Buba has already begun outlining his platform for the governorship. He promised a minimum wage of N80,000 [3] if he is elected to lead the state.
The departure of two high-ranking legislators suggests a growing rift between the state party leadership and its elected officials. This trend of defections may weaken the APC's grip on the region as other politicians follow the senators to the PRP [1].
“Two serving senators from Bauchi State defected from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Redemption Party.”
The departure of two sitting senators suggests that the All Progressives Congress is facing a crisis of legitimacy in Bauchi State. By moving to the Peoples Redemption Party, Buba and Dahuwa are not only seeking a new political home but are attempting to build a viable alternative coalition for the 2027 election. The promise of a higher minimum wage indicates a strategy to attract the working-class vote to challenge the established party structure.
