Just a few hours before the scheduled primary election of the All Progressives Congress held in the early hours of Saturday, May 16, 2026, an aspirant for the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency seat, Mahmud Sadis Buba, officially announced his withdrawal from the contest.
The withdrawal, which came around 3 a.m. on the day fixed for the primary election, has generated political reactions within party circles and among supporters across the constituency.
In a statement personally signed and shared on his Facebook page, Mahmud Sadis Buba explained that his decision followed ongoing reconciliation efforts initiated by leaders and stakeholders of the party aimed at promoting unity and consensus within the APC.
According to him, after consultations with his family, political associates and party stakeholders, he resolved that stepping down from the race was in the best interest of the party and necessary to strengthen unity ahead of future elections.
The politician stated that supporting a consensus arrangement within the party was more important than personal ambition, stressing that unity remains critical to the electoral success and stability of the APC in Kaduna State and the Sabon Gari Federal Constituency.
Mahmud Sadis Buba also appreciated the leader of the party in the state, Uba Sani, alongside the APC leadership in Kaduna State, for giving him the opportunity to participate in the political process.
He described the experience as rewarding and thanked his supporters for their encouragement, loyalty and support throughout the period of consultations and political engagements.
Reaffirming his loyalty to the ruling party, the former aspirant maintained that his withdrawal should not be seen as a sign of weakness, but rather a sacrifice made for the collective interest of the APC.
He further called on his supporters to remain calm, united and fully support whoever eventually emerges as the party’s candidate in the primary election.
Meanwhile, the development has continued to generate mixed reactions on social media, with some political observers linking the withdrawal to recent debates and allegations circulating online concerning issues related to his age and physical stature. However, no official statement has connected those claims to his decision to step down from the race.
Political observers believe the last-minute withdrawal may further strengthen ongoing reconciliation efforts within the Kaduna APC as the party prepares for future political contests in the state.
