The governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bauchi State for the 2027 election, Barrister Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim, has resigned his membership of the party with immediate effect.

Mr Kashim announced his resignation in a letter dated 16 October 2026, addressed to the NDC chairman in Bauchi Local Government Area. He said the decision followed careful consideration and was based on personal reasons.

In the resignation letter, Mr Kashim thanked the party’s leadership and members for the opportunity to work under the NDC, while requesting that his resignation be formally acknowledged and the party’s records updated.

He did not disclose whether he would join another political party or withdraw from the 2027 governorship race.

Political journey

Mr Kashim, a former Secretary to the Bauchi State Government under Governor Bala Mohammed, had previously left the Peoples Democratic Party before moving through the Social Democratic Party and eventually securing the NDC governorship ticket.

The NDC had presented him as its Bauchi governorship candidate, with Tata Alhaji as his running mate. He was also among the 15 governorship candidates recently listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 election in the state.

‘Our political journey is far from over’

In a separate message to his supporters, Mr Kashim said his resignation did not diminish his commitment to the development of Bauchi State.

He said the state needed purposeful leadership, a stronger economy, greater opportunities for young people and women, improved security and better living conditions.

Mr Kashim added that his political journey was not over and promised to communicate the next phase of his political movement in due course. He urged his supporters to remain calm, steadfast and united.

What happens to NDC’s Bauchi ticket?

The resignation creates uncertainty around the NDC’s governorship campaign in Bauchi, particularly because Mr Kashim had already been presented as the party’s candidate.

The party will now need to clarify its position on the governorship ticket and the implications of Mr Kashim’s resignation for its participation in the 2027 election. The NDC had yet to publicly announce its next step at the time of the reports.