BAUCHI, NIGERIA — In a major political shake-up, veteran lawmaker Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending a 25-year affiliation with the party he helped build since 1998.
Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, tendered his resignation on May 7, 2026, in a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman of his ward in Ningi Local Government Area.
The seasoned legislator, whose career includes influential stints in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, described the move as “one of the most difficult decisions” of his political life. He noted that the choice followed months of “extensive consultations” with his political associates and core supporters.
From Powerhouse to “Ramshackle Organization”
In his resignation letter, Ningi did not hold back on his reasons for leaving. While he credited the PDP for providing the platform that launched his career, he lamented the current state of the party, which he claimed has lost its way.
“It is now a great concern and worrisome to me that this virile and united platform could be turned into a ramshackle organisation with internal leadership wrangling and factional interests,” Ningi wrote. He further cited persistent internal crises and competing interests as factors that have “weakened the party’s structure and unity.”
The Move to ADC
Sources close to the Senator indicate that Ningi is not heading into retirement. Instead, he is expected to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The move is viewed by analysts as a strategic realignment ahead of future elections, as political heavyweights begin to seek alternative platforms outside the traditional PDP and APC structures.
Impact on Bauchi Politics
The exit of a “founding father” like Ningi is a significant blow to the PDP in Bauchi State. Having served as a principal officer in the National Assembly, Ningi remains a heavyweight in the North East, and his departure could trigger a wave of defections among his loyalists.
As of this morning, the national leadership of the PDP has yet to issue an official response to the resignation.
