By David Odama
Former Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, Otaru Douglas, has resigned his membership of the party.
His departure comes amidst growing internal wrangling over the state’s 2027 gubernatorial primaries and disagreement over the leadership of the state APC chairman.
Chief Otaru, in a resignation letter to the Karu Ward Chairman of the APC, dated May 30, 2026, and made available to journalists, explained that his decision to leave the party followed a deep reflection on the state of affairs in the party, which he said no longer reflects the wishes of the people of Nasarawa State.
“After deep reflection and in good conscience, I hereby announce my resignation as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, effective immediately.
“Serving as the party’s State Publicity Secretary and as National Chairman of the Conference of APC Publicity Secretaries was a privilege I do not take for granted. Let it be on record that I served with integrity, commitment, and total dedication to the party and the people of Nasarawa State.
“Since I joined the party at its formation, I believed in its promise of internal democracy, inclusion, and justice for all members. It is regrettable, however, that those founding ideals have now been abandoned.
“While I use this medium to thank the government and people of Nasarawa State for the opportunity given me to serve, I extend my warm felicitations to His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, as he marks his third year in his second term and seven years in office as Governor of the State.
“I acknowledge and appreciate the progress recorded under his administration, particularly in governance reforms and infrastructural development across the state. Although good is not enough when better is possible, those achievements deserve commendation,” the former publicity secretary declared.
Chief Otaru Douglas, in a statement issued after resigning his membership of the party, further stated, however, that leadership is not measured by projects alone. It is also measured by how leaders manage people, institutions, and diversity.
“In that regard, I must state that the administration has recorded monumental failure in managing diversity and inclusion.
“Critical stakeholders and the political structure that brought the Governor to power from relative obscurity have been systematically sidelined and run down to serve narrow, selfish interests,” he said.
He noted that the most disturbing scenario is the governor’s unilateral decision to impose an unpopular candidate as his successor against the wishes of the people of Nasarawa State, without recourse to democratic principles and the laid-down guidelines and procedures for the party’s primary election.
“Equally condemnable is the tacit collaboration between the Governor and Dr. Aliyu Bello, the State Party Chairman, who turned himself into a political Pharaoh, alongside other political actors, to edge out the original owners and founders of the party.
“In view of the above and the charade they called the recently concluded primary election in the state, I leave the APC with no bitterness, but with a clear conscience. I remain committed to politics of principle, inclusion, and respect for the people. Nasarawa State deserves leadership that unites, not divides; that consults, not imposes; and that honours its stakeholders, not alienates them.”
