Aisha Suleiman, Dutse
A small group of young All Progressives Congress (APC) members, allegedly loyal to the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, have reportedly been observed vandalising billboards displaying images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Umar Namadi, and Jigawa State APC Chairman Aminu Gumel in Dutse, Jigawa State.
Concerns are growing, particularly as speculation mounts that Defence Minister Badaru may be preparing to shift his political allegiance by defecting to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 elections.
Billboards in prominent areas of the city were seen slashed, defaced, and, in some cases, completely destroyed by youths, allegedly responding to a rumoured defection notice from Badaru or a perceived attempt to tarnish the Governor’s image.
One aggrieved youth, who identified himself as Bala Sule Babura, expressed disappointment with the state government, claiming that Governor Umar Namadi has been managing state affairs without considering Badaru’s input. “The Governor has refused to heed the guidance of the former Governor. Those of us loyal to Badaru can barely access the government house due to the stark divide between the Governor and his predecessor. The promises made to us haven’t materialised, and it feels like we’re worse off now,” Babura lamented.
Political analysts note that Governor Namadi has taken full control of the state’s leadership structure, contrary to the wishes of the former governor and now Minister, who initially opposed Namadi’s emergence as governor. As a result, many key stakeholders once loyal to Badaru have now shifted their support to the current governor, leaving Badaru politically sidelined.
Notably, the people of Jigawa overwhelmingly voted for Umar Namadi as their governor, going against the wishes of former Governor Abubakar Badaru, who did not want his deputy to succeed him.
