Two ADC governorship aspirants dump party in Katsina

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Katsina State faces renewed turmoil as two key governorship aspirants, Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa and Lawal Musa Daura, have resigned from the party. Both politicians contested the ADC's 2026 governorship ticket but later rejected the primary's outcome.

Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, a veteran politician and former Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, announced his exit from the ADC on Sunday, August 9, 2026. He returned to his former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing thousands of supporters with him. Inuwa has a long political history in Katsina, having served as Commissioner for Education and later as SSG under different administrations. He previously left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party in 2022 after losing the party's governorship primary to the current Governor, Mallam Dikko Umar Radda.

Lawal Musa Daura, a former Director-General of the Department of State Services, also resigned from the ADC on the same day. He joined the Allied Peoples Movement. Daura, like Inuwa, had contested the ADC's 2026 governorship ticket and subsequently challenged the selection process amid the party's internal crisis.

Inuwa cited the need to advance political aspirations and protect his supporters' interests as reasons for his defection. His move is seen by political stakeholders as a potential boost for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. The departures highlight a significant internal crisis within the ADC in Katsina State, stemming from disputes over the candidate selection process.