Former Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government, Mukhtar Lawal Baloni, has announced his departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing a growing disconnection between his values and the party’s current direction.
Baloni, who played a significant role in the party’s formative years at the grassroots level, made the announcement in a personally signed statement released to journalists.
He said the APC no longer upholds the principles it once stood for and described his exit as a necessary step amid the party’s shift away from its original mission.
“The party, as we used to know it, represented a platform that aspired to meet the yearnings of everyday Nigerians in a noble and qualitative manner,” Baloni said, lamenting the APC’s perceived decline in political relevance and inclusivity.
Baloni’s resignation was not an isolated act. Several of his long-standing political allies also announced their departure in solidarity.
Among them are Dahiru Abdullahi Maidace, a former Vice Chairman of Kaduna North (2012–2014), Ghali Mohammed Waziri, a former Chief of Staff, as well as a host of former councillors, advisers, and ward executives who have served under the party’s banner in the past.
The former council chairman stressed the need for a new political direction rooted in justice, equity, and genuine public service.
He hinted at the possibility of joining a broader coalition of like-minded politicians seeking to chart an alternative political course ahead of the 2027 elections.
His resignation comes amid a wave of defections within the APC in Kaduna State, following the recent exit of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who left the party for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai has since become a key figure in a growing coalition of opposition leaders and is reportedly aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), now seen as a potential vehicle for opposition unity.
In reaction to the development, Salisu Tanko Wusono, the APC’s spokesperson in Kaduna State, dismissed Baloni’s departure as a personal decision and insisted the party remains focused on governance and service delivery.
“Our focus in the APC is to strengthen the relationship between the party and the people of Kaduna State.
We were not elected without making promises to them, and we are committed to fulfilling those promises,” Wusono stated.
“There is no fault in someone feeling that their personal opinion no longer aligns with that of the people of Kaduna. If he wants to leave, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
The resignation of Baloni and others marks another chapter in the ongoing political realignments within Kaduna, as opposition movements continue to gain momentum ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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