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Former Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State, Abubakar Kabir Basambo, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring support for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the party’s governorship candidate, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Basambo announced his decision in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Sunday in Ilorin. He said the move followed a meeting with Danladi-Salihu, who is also the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly.
The former ADC spokesman described his decision as a commitment to supporting the current administration and contributing to the development of the state. He also expressed confidence in AbdulRazaq’s leadership and the direction of the APC in Kwara.
His defection comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with politicians moving between parties and alliances taking shape across the country.
Basambo is not new to the state’s governorship politics. He was the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 general election before joining the ADC, where he served as the state Publicity Secretary.
His latest move therefore represents another change in his political affiliation as the contest for the next governorship election approaches.
According to his statement, Basambo said AbdulRazaq’s decision to support a governorship candidate from Kwara North influenced his decision to join the APC.
He praised the governor’s position on the distribution of political opportunities across the state and described the decision to give the governorship ticket to Kwara North as significant.
“Governor AbdulRazaq is a man who keeps his promise. His singular act of taking the governorship ticket to Kwara North is enough for me,” Basambo said.
He also commended the administration’s record in healthcare, education, road construction and other sectors, describing its performance in those areas as impressive.
Basambo subsequently declared his loyalty to the governor and Danladi-Salihu, pledging to support the APC 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.
The former ADC official said he wanted to contribute to the state’s development through his new political platform. However, he did not provide further details about any formal role or position he might take within the APC following the defection. Punch Newspapers
The defection follows a public disagreement between Basambo and the Kwara ADC leadership over his departure from the party.
Basambo resigned as the state Publicity Secretary in a letter dated October 23, 2026, addressed to the party chairman through the leadership of his Magaji Are 1 Ward and the Ilorin East Local Government Area chapter.
In the resignation letter, he criticised some party leaders and members of the state executive committee, accusing them of hypocrisy, dishonesty and double standards.
He said he could no longer identify with the direction of the ADC in Kwara, arguing that the internal environment had become difficult for him.
The former spokesman maintained that his resignation followed his personal assessment of the party’s leadership and political direction.
However, the ADC offered a different account of the circumstances surrounding his departure.
The party’s state secretary, Ibrahim Alege, said concerns had previously been raised about Basambo’s conduct and commitment to the party’s ideals. According to Alege, the leadership and Council of Elders had begun internal disciplinary procedures before the former spokesman resigned.
Alege suggested that Basambo chose to leave rather than allow the disciplinary process to continue. The party also maintained that his resignation was a personal decision and did not indicate weakness within its structure.
Basambo rejected that explanation, insisting that he resigned voluntarily and on principle. He said he had not received any formal written allegations or been given an opportunity to defend himself before the party.
He also questioned the proposed disciplinary panel, alleging that some individuals expected to participate in the process were among those whose conduct he had previously challenged.
The disagreement exposed divisions within the Kwara ADC over internal party management, accountability and the handling of disagreements among its members. Punch Newspapers+2
Beyond the dispute over his resignation, Basambo had also criticised the ADC’s political organisation in Kwara.
He described the party as structurally weak and questioned its visibility and grassroots engagement. He alleged that the party lacked sufficient public communication activities, including billboards and radio programmes, to promote its political activities across the state.
He further accused members of the Council of Elders of exercising excessive control over party affairs while sidelining the state executive committee.
Basambo also raised concerns about the party’s internal decision-making, alleging that a candidate who won the House of Assembly primary in Oyun Local Government Area was removed and replaced. He did not provide detailed evidence of the alleged replacement in the report.
The former spokesman also criticised the ADC governorship candidate, Zakari Mohammed, claiming that his conduct contributed to his decision to leave the party.
Despite his criticism of the party’s leadership, Basambo expressed appreciation for his political leader, Abubakar Kannike, whom he described as a person of honour and sincerity.
The ADC, for its part, maintained that it remained committed to building what it described as a credible political alternative in Kwara and across Nigeria. Punch Newspapers
Basambo’s defection comes at a time when political parties in Kwara are repositioning ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The APC is seeking to retain control of the state after AbdulRazaq’s two-term administration, while opposition parties are working to build structures and alliances capable of challenging the ruling party.
The choice of Danladi-Salihu as the APC governorship candidate has also placed attention on the question of power distribution among the state’s three senatorial districts.
Basambo specifically cited the decision to take the governorship ticket to Kwara North as a major reason for supporting the APC. His position reflects the importance of regional representation in the political discussions surrounding the next governorship election.
The ADC has also been positioning itself as an opposition platform ahead of 2027. In July 2026, its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party was seeking to end APC control of Kwara and presented the ADC as an alternative for voters dissatisfied with the existing political arrangement.
The party has attracted politicians from different political backgrounds, including former members of the APC, Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party. Punch Newspapers+1
Basambo’s movement to the APC adds another development to the changing political alignments in Kwara ahead of the next election cycle. His previous experience as a Labour Party governorship candidate and ADC state spokesman gives the defection significance beyond an ordinary change of party membership.
However, the political impact of his decision will depend on the level of support he can bring into the APC and whether other former ADC members or political associates follow his move.
For now, Basambo has publicly declared his support for AbdulRazaq and Danladi-Salihu, while the ADC leadership has maintained its position that his departure does not weaken the party’s political objectives.
