Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has announced his withdrawal from active partisan politics following the outcome of the recent primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Shittu, who is also a lawyer and founding member of the ruling party, made the disclosure during an interview on SYMFONI, where he cited alleged manipulation, imposition of candidates and the absence of internal democracy within the party as reasons for his decision.
According to the former minister, recent political developments convinced him to redirect his focus toward Islamic Dawah and religious activities, which he described as more spiritually fulfilling.
“I am no longer interested in politics. I want to do Islamic Dawah because if you put even a quarter of the effort we invest in politics into God’s work, one will certainly be better compensated,” he stated.
Shittu expressed disappointment over what he described as increasing manipulation and deceptive practices within party structures, alleging that powerful figures now influence internal political processes to favour preferred aspirants.
He lamented that politics in Nigeria requires huge financial commitments, sacrifices and personal dedication, yet often ends in frustration and disappointment for many participants.
The former minister specifically alleged that the governorship primary in the APC had already been predetermined despite aspirants reportedly paying ₦50 million each for nomination forms.
According to him, he had initially planned to resign from his position as Pro-Chancellor of a federal university to pursue his political ambition, but was later persuaded not to do so after being informed that it reflected the wishes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I had to ask whether I had truly been sent the message of Mr President. I was told the President said I should not withdraw from my position as Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University. Because I believed in the arrangement, I obeyed,” he explained.
Shittu, however, claimed he later discovered that the process had allegedly been concluded in favour of another aspirant long before the primary election took place.
“It was much later that I discovered it had already been settled. I still thank God because I cannot imagine myself paying ₦50 million only to be told later that another person had already been anointed,” he said.
He questioned why aspirants would be made to purchase expensive nomination forms when, according to him, the outcome of the exercise had allegedly already been decided.
“Why would people be asked to part with ₦50 million before announcing an anointed candidate without consultation with the rest of us?” he queried.
The former minister further warned that the dissatisfaction arising from the conduct of the primaries could negatively affect the party’s future electoral fortunes if not properly addressed.
“When I said it was going to be a crisis, I meant that if this type of arrangement succeeds, it will definitely affect the fortunes of the party because many people involved are unhappy with the situation,” he stated.
Shittu also argued that provisions of the Electoral Act now leave many aggrieved aspirants politically stranded, as participants in party primaries are restricted from defecting to other parties to contest for the same positions.
“In this playhouse involving the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and senatorial primaries, many of those who worked to produce this political structure through the amended electoral act will become the first casualties because once you participate in the primary, you cannot go elsewhere again,” he added.
