Senator Garba Musa Maidoki quit the All Progressives Congress on Friday, abandoning the party just three days before the Kebbi State senatorial primary election scheduled for Monday.
Maidoki, who represents Kebbi Central, cited deep fractures within the party as his reason for leaving. The senator did not immediately disclose which party he planned to join, but his exit signals serious trouble within APC ranks in the state ahead of the crucial primary.
The timing of his resignation raises questions about the primary process itself. Maidoki's departure suggests he either faces an uphill battle to retain his ticket or has lost confidence in the party's internal processes. Kebbi Central has been a stronghold for the APC, and losing a sitting senator to a party exit weeks before the general election represents a significant setback.
Internal party crises in Kebbi APC have simmered for months, with reports of factional disputes and disagreements over candidate selection in various positions. Maidoki's exit appears to be the most high-profile casualty of these tensions, though party sources indicated other chieftains have grown restless over the handling of primary arrangements.
The senator's move leaves the APC scrambling to manage perceptions of internal discord just as the party heads into a critical election cycle. Party officials in the state have not yet responded to Maidoki's resignation or addressed the underlying grievances he cited.
Maidoki served one full term in the Senate and was seeking re-election. His decision to quit the APC ahead of the primary suggests he saw little path to victory through the party's nomination process. The senator is expected to announce his new political home within the coming days as parties across the opposition seek to leverage his exit to strengthen their positions in Kebbi State.
