Isa Ashiru, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 Kaduna State governorship election, has formally resigned his membership from the party, citing persistent internal leadership crises.
In a resignation letter dated March 27 and addressed to the ward chairman of Kudan Ward in Kudan Local Government Area, Ashiru said his decision followed “careful reflection on the state of affairs within the party.”
“I write with a deep sense of humility to formally notify the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of my decision to resign my membership of the party, effective from today, the 27th day of March, 2026,” the letter read in part.
“After careful reflection over the persistent internal leadership crisis, conflicts, rancour and divisions within the party, it has become increasingly difficult for me to continue to participate actively as a member. This decision is personal and taken in good faith.”
Ashiru, who also holds the traditional title of Sarkin Bai Zazzau, later confirmed his defection by posting a campaign-style poster bearing the logo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on his verified Facebook page.
A former federal lawmaker who represented the Makarfi/Kudan constituency in the House of Representatives, Ashiru previously served two terms in the Kaduna State House of Assembly before moving to the National Assembly.
His political journey includes a 2015 bid for the Kaduna State governorship ticket. At that time, he contested against Nasir el‑Rufai (then an All Progressives Congress aspirant) but lost the party primaries. He later returned to the PDP ahead of the 2019 general elections and became the party’s governorship candidate, though he was again defeated by el‑Rufai in the main election. Also in 2023, he contested for the same position, but got defeated by El-Rufai’s anointed, Uba Sani.
Ashiru’s resignation and immediate move to the ADC mark the latest high‑profile departure from the PDP in Kaduna State, as internal discord continues to reshape the opposition political landscape ahead of the next election cycle.