Prominent Zamfara State House of Assembly member, Shamsuddeen Hassan Basko, has officially defected. He moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Basko notably represents the constituency of former Governor Abdulaziz Yari.

The Speaker formally announced Basko’s defection on Thursday. This occurred during the presentation of the 2026 proposed budget by Governor Dauda Lawal.

This move comes as former state Governor Abdulaziz Yari’s political influence appears to be diminishing. His standing has reportedly weakened. This happened after his loss to Senator Godswill Akpabio in the Senate President contest two years prior.

Basko’s departure further exacerbates divisions within the Zamfara APC. It also undermines Yari’s control over the party structure. Hassan cited “deepening crises and poor leadership” as his reasons for leaving. These issues were present at both local government and state levels.

Basko formally addressed his resignation in a letter. It was sent to the APC chairman of Galadima Ward, Talata Mafara Local Government Area. Dated December 3, 2025, the letter was titled ‘Resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC)’. The lawmaker expressed his dismay, stating that ongoing party divisions made effective participation unfeasible.

The resignation letter explicitly stated: “After careful reflection of activities, crisis, divisions, sidelined and poor leadership of the party from local government and the state levels, I have decided to step away from active participation in the party.”

Hassan further explained his decision. He seeks to pursue “commitments that align more closely” with his political beliefs. These commitments also address the developmental needs of his constituents.

Despite the difficulty, Basko affirmed that his departure was crucial for his constituents’ progress. He conveyed his gratitude for the experiences gained while serving with the ruling party.

Basko requested the ward leadership to acknowledge the letter as his formal exit notification from the APC. He also confirmed that copies were sent to the Zamfara State APC chairman and the Talata Mafara Local Government chairman.