Isa Ashiru, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 Kaduna State governorship election, has resigned his membership of the party.
The former candidate conveyed his decision in a letter dated March 27. The letter was addressed to the ward chairman of Kudan Ward in Kudan Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A copy later appeared on his verified Facebook page on Monday.
In the letter, Ashiru explained that his exit followed “careful reflection on the state of affairs within the party.”
“I write with a deep sense of humility to formally notify the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of my decision to resign my membership of the party, effective from today, the 27th day of March, 2026.
“After careful reflection over the persistent internal leadership crisis, conflicts, rancour and divisions within the party, it has become increasingly difficult for me to continue to participate actively as a member of the party.
“This decision is personal and taken in good faith,” he said.
Later on Monday, Ashiru signalled his next political move. He shared a campaign-style poster on Facebook that carried the logo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which confirmed his defection to the party.
Ashiru, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Bai Zazzau, previously served as a member of the House of Representatives. He represented the Makarfi/Kudan federal constituency. He also spent two terms in the Kaduna State House of Assembly before his move to the National Assembly.
His political journey includes a contest under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. He sought the party’s governorship ticket but lost at the primary stage to former Governor Nasir el-Rufai. He later returned to the PDP ahead of the 2019 elections and emerged as its governorship candidate, but lost to el-Rufai in the general poll.
Ashiru flew the PDP flag again in the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State. He was defeated by the APC candidate, Uba Sani, who polled 730,002 votes. Ashiru secured 719,196 votes in the contest.
