Former Chief of Air Staff and 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.), has announced his withdrawal from active politics, bringing an apparent end to his political ambitions after years of involvement in Nigeria’s political space.
The retired Air Force chief made the announcement on Sunday through a statement shared on his official X account, where he declared that he was stepping away from what he described as the “murky waters” of Nigerian politics. He also stated that he no longer belongs to any political party and would not be contesting for any elective office again.
Although he is leaving partisan politics, Abubakar said he would continue contributing to society and supporting ordinary Nigerians in other ways. His statement has since sparked reactions across political circles, especially in Bauchi State, where he remained a prominent opposition figure after the 2023 governorship election.
Sadique Abubakar served as Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff between 2015 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari before retiring from military service. Following his retirement, he was appointed as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Chad and later ventured into politics, emerging as the APC governorship candidate in Bauchi State ahead of the 2023 elections.
During the 2023 governorship election, he mounted a strong challenge against incumbent governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but eventually lost the contest.
Despite the defeat, he remained politically relevant in the state, with speculations in recent months linking him to possible political realignments and another governorship bid ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reports had recently suggested that posters promoting a potential 2027 governorship ambition under another political platform had surfaced in parts of Bauchi State, fueling talks about his next political move. However, his latest announcement appears to have ended those speculations.