The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State has suffered another setback following the defection of its immediate past Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Basambo, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Basambo, a former Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, announced his decision in a statement issued in Ilorin on Sunday.
He attributed his defection to a meeting with the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and APC governorship candidate, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.
Politics Nigeria reports that the former ADC spokesman also pledged allegiance to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Danladi-Salihu, praising the governor’s leadership and achievements in various sectors.
According to him, AbdulRazaq’s decision to zone the governorship ticket to Kwara North, alongside his administration’s performance in healthcare, education and road infrastructure, influenced his decision.
“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 joining the APC would provide him with an opportunity to contribute to the development of the state, pledging his full support for the governor and the party’s governorship candidate.
“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 move to the APC follows a heated disagreement with the ADC leadership in Kwara over his exit from the party and the allegations surrounding his resignation.
Basambo had announced his resignation as the state publicity secretary in a letter dated October 23, 2026, addressed to the party chairman through his Magaji Are 1 Ward chairman and the Ilorin East Local Government Area chapter.
In the letter titled, ‘Letter of Resignation from ADC’, he accused some party leaders and members of the state executive committee of hypocrisy, dishonesty and double standards.
He said he could no longer associate with the party because of what he described as its poor direction and internal leadership failures.
“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.
However, the ADC state secretary, Ibrahim Alege, disputed Basambo’s account, alleging that the former spokesman resigned to escape disciplinary action initiated by the party leadership and its Council of Elders.
Alege said the party had raised concerns about Basambo’s conduct and commitment before commencing internal disciplinary procedures.
“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.
The party described his departure as a personal decision, insisting that it was not indicative of any weakness within its ranks.
Basambo subsequently rejected the allegation, maintaining that his resignation was voluntary and based on principle. He also said the party never formally communicated any allegations against him or provided an opportunity for him to defend himself.
“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 credibility of the proposed disciplinary panel, alleging that some of its expected members were among those whose conduct he had previously challenged.
“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.
The former publicity secretary further accused the Kwara ADC leadership of failing to establish a functional political structure, describing the party as “structurally comatose”.
He faulted its grassroots mobilisation and publicity efforts, claiming that the party had neither billboards nor sponsored radio programmes to promote its activities.
“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 also accused members of the Council of Elders of dominating the party’s affairs, sidelining the state executive and engaging in political negotiations with other parties without accountability.
He further alleged that the party’s secretariat was unfit for use and claimed that its House of Assembly candidate who won the primary in Oyun Local Government Area was subsequently removed and replaced by some party leaders. He, however, did not provide further details to substantiate the allegation.
The former spokesman had also criticised the ADC governorship candidate, Zakari Mohammed, alleging that his conduct was among the reasons for his departure.
