The retired Air Marshal, who contested the 2023 Bauchi governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, disclosed his decision in separate messages shared with supporters over the weekend.
Former Chief of Air Staff, Saddique Abubakar, has announced his withdrawal from active politics, bringing an abrupt end to growing speculation about a possible return to the Bauchi governorship race ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a post published on his X account on Sunday, Abubakar declared that he was stepping away from partisan politics and would no longer seek any elective office.
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“I say goodbye to the murky waters of Nigerian politics. I no longer belong to any political party and will therefore not vie for any office,” he wrote.
“However, I will continue to support ordinary Nigerians to the best of my ability.”
The former Air Force chief also addressed supporters in a short Hausa-language video, describing the decision as painful but necessary.
“Today, with a heavy heart, I have made the difficult decision to quit politics for personal reasons,” he said, while thanking residents of Bauchi State and political associates for their support since his entry into politics in 2021.
Abubakar emerged as one of the leading opposition figures in Bauchi after retiring from military service in 2021. He later secured the APC governorship ticket and mounted a strong challenge against incumbent governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2023 elections.
Although he lost the contest, political observers continued to view him as a major force within Bauchi politics, especially after posters linking him to a potential 2027 governorship ambition under the Action Democratic Party surfaced across parts of Bauchi metropolis in recent weeks.
His sudden exit is expected to reshape political calculations in the North-East state, where early alignments for the next election cycle have already intensified among major parties and power blocs.
Abubakar, however, said he would remain committed to public service through humanitarian interventions and community development initiatives.
According to him, his focus will now shift to healthcare, education and support programmes through the Marshal Care Foundation, his philanthropic organisation.
Before entering politics, Abubakar served as Chief of Air Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He was later appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to the Niger Republic but resigned from the diplomatic role to pursue his governorship ambition in Bauchi State.
His decision to quit politics also comes amid mounting legal troubles involving his wife, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development between 2019 and 2023.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recently declared Umar-Farouq wanted over allegations involving the diversion of public funds and abuse of office.
The anti-graft agency subsequently filed multiple charges against her and a former permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali, accusing them of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and misappropriation of funds running into millions of dollars and naira.
While Abubakar did not directly link his political exit to the controversy, the timing of the announcement has generated widespread debate within political circles in Bauchi and beyond.
Supporters have since flooded social media with mixed reactions, with some praising his military and public service record while others described his departure as a major setback for opposition politics in the state.
