Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a close associate and political ally to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, has officially dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC.
However, Mr Baba-Ahmed, who was appointed Chief of Staff to Mr Saraki in 2017, said his decision has nothing to do with the Senate President.
While addressing newsmen in Kaduna on Monday, Mr Baba-Ahmed described his decision to leave the party as a difficult one.
He said he took the decision after due consultation with members of his Akida faction of APC in Kaduna.
The Akida faction also has a senator, Shehu Sani as a member. Mr Sani has also threatened to leave the APC.
Mr Baba-Ahmed said he has sent a letter of withdrawal from APC to the party chairman in his ward.
He explained that he was not leaving APC to join another party but believes the ruling party has under-performed.
“This statement is to inform the public of my resignation from APC. I have sent a formal letter to this effect to the chairman of my ward.
“This has been a very difficult decision, to leave a party I helped to form and made my humble contributions to put in power.
“After three years, however, I need to say that the APC has grossly underperformed and has forfeited any claim to my loyalty and continue membership.
“I do not believe in all conscience, that it should be trusted and encouraged to continue to govern our great country beyond 2019.
“I am not leaving to join another party. This is my decision and mine alone. It has nothing to do with the president of the Senate Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“It’s a decision taken after due consultations with Akida Group, a group that has predated my appointment as chief of staff to the President of the Senate.
“I will remain active in politics, as this is the main avenue for salvaging our nation from rising insecurity, poverty and bitter divisions,” he said.
Mr Baba-Ahmed is a former chairman of the APC in Kaduna as well as a former chairman of the now defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).
He thanked the APC for the opportunities he had to chair CPC and APC in Kaduna State.
