The political landscape in Kwara State has witnessed a significant realignment following the defection of Abubakar Basambo, the immediate past Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Basambo, who was also the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, formally announced his move in a statement issued on Sunday in Ilorin, the state capital.
His decision to join the APC, according to the statement, followed a meeting with Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and the APC’s governorship candidate. Basambo used the occasion to declare his support for both Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Danladi-Salihu, expressing confidence in the governor’s leadership and the performance of his administration.
A Vote of Confidence in the Governor
In explaining his decision, Basambo praised Governor AbdulRazaq’s record, describing him as a leader who honours his commitments. He singled out the governor’s decision to cede the governorship ticket to Kwara North as a decisive factor in his defection, describing the gesture as sufficient grounds for his support. He also lauded what he characterised as the administration’s achievements in healthcare, education, road infrastructure and other sectors, which he rated as top-notch.
Basambo stated that he was joining the ruling party to contribute to the development of the state, adding that he was fully committed to supporting the governor and the APC governorship candidate. He declared what he described as his unflinching support and total loyalty to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and to Danladi-Salihu.
Background to the Defection
The defection follows a public disagreement between Basambo and the Kwara State chapter of the ADC over the circumstances surrounding his resignation from the party. Basambo had resigned as the ADC state publicity secretary in a letter dated October 23, 2026, addressed to the state chairman through the chairman of his Magaji Are 1 Ward and the Ilorin East Local Government Area chapter.
In the letter, titled “Letter of Resignation from ADC,” Basambo accused some party leaders and members of the state executive committee of hypocrisy, dishonesty and double standards. He stated that he could no longer identify with the direction of the party in the state, explaining that the decision was not taken lightly and followed deep reflection on the conduct of those he described as parading themselves as loyal leaders.
Dispute Over the Resignation
The ADC’s state secretary, Ibrahim Alege, offered a different account, alleging that Basambo resigned to avoid disciplinary proceedings initiated by the party leadership and its Council of Elders over concerns about his conduct and commitment. According to Alege, those concerns had prompted the party’s leadership and Council of Elders to initiate established internal disciplinary procedures, and rather than allow that process to run its course, Basambo chose to resign. The party maintained that his departure was a personal decision and did not reflect any weakness within its ranks.
Basambo, however, dismissed the allegation, insisting that he resigned voluntarily and on principle. He stated that he did not resign to evade any process, that no formal allegation was ever served on him in writing, and that he was never given a fair hearing to respond. He also faulted the proposed disciplinary panel, alleging that some of those expected to sit on it were among the party members whose conduct he had previously challenged. In his words, one cannot be a judge in one’s own case, and he could not face a panel populated by the very persons whose anti-party activities and impunity he had challenged.
Criticism of the ADC’s Structure
Beyond the dispute over his resignation, Basambo levelled broader criticism at the ADC leadership in Kwara, accusing it of failing to establish an effective political structure. He described the party as structurally comatose and questioned its visibility and grassroots engagement, alleging that it had no billboards or radio programmes to promote its activities and lacked adequate facilities for its operations. He challenged anyone to show a single ADC billboard in Kwara or a radio programme sponsored by the party to sensitise the public, saying none existed except for the personal efforts of a few serious-minded candidates, particularly in Kwara South and one senatorial candidate from the North.
Basambo further alleged that members of the Council of Elders had taken control of the party’s affairs, sidelined the state executive and engaged in political negotiations with other parties without accountability. He also claimed that the party’s state secretariat was uninhabitable and alleged that a candidate who won its House of Assembly primary in Oyun Local Government Area was removed and replaced by some party leaders, although he did not provide details of the circumstances surrounding the alleged replacement.
The former spokesman also criticised the ADC governorship candidate, Zakari Mohammed, alleging that his conduct contributed to his decision to leave the party. Despite his criticism of the ADC leadership, Basambo expressed appreciation for his political leader, Abubakar Kannike, whom he described as a man of honour and sincerity.
ADC Insists It Remains a Credible Alternative
In response to the developments, the ADC maintained that it remained committed to building what it described as a credible political alternative in Kwara State and Nigeria, insisting that its mission was driven by transparency, competence and service.
What the Defection Means for Kwara Politics
Basambo’s move to the APC adds a new dimension to the political contest in Kwara State, particularly given his previous role as the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 general election and his recent position within the ADC’s state executive. His endorsement of Governor AbdulRazaq and the APC governorship candidate, Danladi-Salihu, is likely to be presented by the ruling party as a mark of confidence in its stewardship, while the opposition will point to the circumstances surrounding his exit from the ADC as evidence of internal friction within the state’s political class.
The public exchange between Basambo and the ADC leadership also highlights the internal tensions that can accompany party transitions, with competing accounts of whether his resignation was a matter of principle or an attempt to pre-empt disciplinary action. For now, the former ADC spokesman has aligned himself firmly with the ruling party, pledging his loyalty to the governor and the APC’s governorship candidate as the state moves deeper into the current political cycle.
