Abubakar Basambo, a former spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress in Kwara State, has aligned with the All Progressives Congress, marking his latest political move ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Basambo previously flew the Labour Party’s flag in the 2023 Kwara governorship race before serving as the ADC’s state publicity secretary.
He made his decision to join the APC public in a statement sent to The PUNCH on Sunday in Ilorin, explaining that his choice came after a discussion with the Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, who is the ruling party’s governorship contender.
The former governorship aspirant also endorsed AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration and pledged to work for Danladi-Salihu, citing his confidence in the governor’s record in office.
“Governor AbdulRazaq is a man who keeps his promise. His singular act of taking the governorship ticket to Kwara North is enough for me. His resounding success in healthcare, education, roads and other sectors is top-notch,” he said.
Basambo said his entry into the APC was motivated by his desire to participate in the state’s political and developmental affairs. He assured the governor and Danladi-Salihu that they could count on his political backing.
“I hereby declare my unflinching support and total loyalty to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and to Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi,” he stated.
His latest political affiliation comes after weeks of exchanges between him and the ADC leadership in Kwara over his departure from the organisation.
On October 23, 2026, Basambo formally communicated his withdrawal from the position of state publicity secretary in a letter forwarded to the party chairman through his ward chairman in Magaji Are 1 and the Ilorin East Local Government chapter.
In the document, he questioned the integrity of some senior officials and members of the state executive, accusing them of practices he said contradicted the principles they claimed to uphold. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s political direction.
“This decision was not taken lightly. After deep reflection, I can no longer cope with the direction the party is going in the state. There is so much hypocrisy, lies, and double standards amongst some party leaders and State Excos who parade themselves as loyal leaders,” he wrote.
The ADC offered a different explanation for his exit. Its state secretary, Ibrahim Alege, said Basambo left after the party began considering disciplinary measures against him following complaints about his actions and level of involvement.
“For some time, concerns had been raised regarding Mr Basambo’s conduct and commitment to the ideals of the party. These concerns prompted the party’s leadership and Council of Elders to initiate established internal disciplinary procedures. Rather than allow that process to run its course, he chose to resign,” Alege said in a statement.
Alege maintained that the development was not a setback for the ADC, describing Basambo’s withdrawal as a matter of personal choice rather than evidence of problems within the organisation.
Rejecting that position, the former spokesman argued that nobody had officially confronted him with any misconduct allegations before he submitted his resignation. He insisted that his decision was based on his personal convictions.
“Let me state it unequivocally: I resigned voluntarily and on principle. I did not resign to evade any process. No formal allegation was ever served on me in writing, and I was never given a fair hearing to respond,” he said in a statement made available to The PUNCH.
He also questioned the fairness of the proposed investigation, arguing that some individuals expected to participate in the exercise had themselves been subjects of his earlier complaints.
“You cannot be a judge in your own case. I cannot face a panel populated by the very persons whose anti-party activities and impunity I challenged,” he added.
Beyond the dispute over his resignation, Basambo raised wider concerns about how the ADC was being run in Kwara. He argued that the party lacked the organisational capacity required to compete effectively, describing its condition as “structurally comatose”.
He challenged the party to demonstrate its presence across the state, pointing to what he described as an absence of outdoor publicity materials and sponsored radio programmes. He argued that its limited public engagement had weakened its connection with ordinary residents.
“Show me one billboard of the ADC in Kwara. Show me one radio program sponsored by the party to sensitise the public. There is none — except for the personal efforts of a few serious-minded candidates, particularly in Kwara South and one Senatorial candidate from the North,” he said.
Basambo further alleged that the Council of Elders had assumed control of important party decisions, leaving the state executive with little authority. He also accused members of the council of conducting discussions with rival political groups without properly accounting for their actions.
On the party’s infrastructure, he claimed that the ADC’s state office was in a condition that made it unsuitable for normal activities.
He also alleged interference in the party’s electoral process, claiming that an individual who emerged victorious in the House of Assembly primary in Oyun Local Government Area was subsequently displaced and another person installed in his place. He did not explain further how the alleged change was carried out.
The former ADC official had separately questioned the suitability of the party’s governorship candidate, Zakari Mohammed, linking his concerns about the candidate to his decision to abandon the platform.
Nevertheless, he reserved commendation for Abubakar Kannike, his political mentor, whom he credited with possessing honesty and admirable personal values.
Meanwhile, the Kwara ADC leadership said its political objectives remained unchanged despite the internal disagreements. The party reiterated its intention to present an alternative to existing political parties, with an agenda centred on openness, capable leadership and public interest in both the state and the country.
