Former Kwara ADC spokesperson Abubakar Basambo joins APC

Defection announced in Ilorin

On 9 November 2026, Abubakar Kabir Basambo, the former publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kwara State, publicly announced that he had joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). The disclosure took place at a gathering in Ilorin involving Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, who serves as both the APC gubernatorial aspirant and the presiding officer of the Kwara State House of Assembly. Basambo, who had previously contested the 2023 general election as the Labour Party’s candidate for governor, said he was joining the ruling party to help develop the state.

Statement of support

In his statement to *The PUNCH*, Basambo expressed confidence in Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the APC governorship ticket. He lauded the chief executive's achievements in the sectors of health, schooling, and physical development, while affirming his steadfast allegiance to the sitting governor and Danladi. The ex-ADC spokesperson stated that he could no longer align with the political trajectory of the organization in Kwara, following a departure notice dated 23 October 2026 that charged the leadership with insincerity and inconsistent conduct.

Background of the resignation

Basambo submitted his exit from the ADC via the head of his Magaji Are 1 Ward and the Ilorin East Local Government Area branch. Within the document, he pointed to a mismatch with the organization's path and claimed that certain officials lacked integrity. The ADC state secretary, Ibrahim Alege, counter‑claimed that Basambo had resigned to avoid disciplinary action by the party’s leadership and Council of Elders, who had raised concerns about his conduct and commitment to party ideals.

Why it matters

Basambo’s move to the APC comes at a time when the party is consolidating support for its governorship candidate, Yakubu Danladi‑Salihu, and for the incumbent governor, AbdulRazaq. His defection may influence supporters of the ADC in Kwara, particularly those who had followed his 2023 campaign. The shift also highlights internal tensions within the ADC, with accusations of hypocrisy and disciplinary concerns cited by both sides.

What happens next

The sources do not indicate any further actions beyond Basambo’s declaration of support for the APC. No official statements from the ADC or the APC regarding the implications of his defection were reported in the available material.