I’ve not joined APC — Bafarawa

Former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has denied becoming a member of the All Progressives Congress.

Bafarawa, who resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in January 2025, said this in a press release made obtainable to newsmen on Thursday.

He described the allegation as fully false, unfounded, and malicious, saying there was no iota of fact in it by any means.

In line with him, though he was a founding member of the APC, he withdrew due to points that arose in the course of the get together’s formation.

The previous governor stated, “Let me state, with out equivocation, that I’ve not joined the APC and haven’t any intention of becoming a member of the get together by any means. I additionally haven’t any intention of becoming a member of another political get together. It needs to be recalled that I, on the eighth of January, 2025, resigned my membership of the PDP.

“I didn’t simply depart the previous ruling get together; I declared then that my resolution was knowledgeable by my dedication to a brand new chapter of service, which focuses on uplifting humanity by way of youth empowerment. I did emphasise then that the youth empowerment scheme is a motion that seeks to encourage, empower, and remodel the lives of our younger ones, who’re the bedrock of our nation’s future.

“To make sure that there isn’t a battle of curiosity in my pursuit and discharge of this lofty goal, I thought-about it crucial to withdraw from any type of political affiliation. Let me restate, for the avoidance of doubt, that nothing has modified. I stay dedicated to the duty of making avenues for youth empowerment, fostering innovation, and selling values that construct a affluent future for all.

He added that misconceptions about his alleged APC membership possible arose as a result of a few of his supporters had joined the get together.

“Maybe what’s being misconstrued in some quarters as my belongingness to the APC is the truth that my erstwhile supporters have joined the political get together. The purpose have to be made that my supporters, whether or not younger or previous, nonetheless have the fitting of freedom of affiliation.

“My resolution to withdraw from partisan politics is strictly mine, not theirs. If I’m drained and retired, they’re neither drained nor retired. They’re due to this fact free to affix any political get together or affiliation, simply as a very good variety of them have now joined the APC. However it is very important notice that my supporters didn’t be part of the APC for the sake of it.

“Their motion is pushed by the great works of the governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, particularly within the space of safety. Their help for and collaboration with the governor will promote peace. As a peace-loving man, I stand for any motion that promotes peace. I due to this fact help their transfer.

“For individuals who have no idea, I used to be a founding member of the APC however needed to give up the get together at its very early phases owing to some irreconcilable variations that crept in at the moment. The truth is, I discover it laughable that I’m being related to a political get together whose conferences I by no means attended. How can I be a member of APC with out attending its conferences? The story reads very very similar to the handiwork of mischief makers,” he concluded.

Bafarawa served two phrases in workplace from 1999 to 2007 and has remained an influential determine in Nigerian politics. He was one of many founding members of the APC in 2013, a merger that introduced collectively main opposition events to problem the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Nevertheless, inside disagreements in the course of the early phases of the get together’s formation led to Bafarawa’s resolution to withdraw from the APC earlier than it turned Nigeria’s ruling get together in 2015.

Bafarawa later rejoined the PDP and was energetic within the get together till his resignation in January 2025, citing a need to concentrate on youth empowerment and philanthropic initiatives moderately than partisan politics. Since his resignation, hypothesis has often surfaced in political circles about his attainable return to partisan politics, notably given the realignment of political actors forward of the 2027 common elections.

This has included social media rumours and unverified stories alleging his affiliation with varied political events, together with the APC. Bafarawa’s clarification on this report is geared toward dispelling such misinformation and reaffirming his present non‑political stance.