A prominent member of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council and former Commissioner for Finance in Kaduna State, Hon. Ismail Aliyu Makarfi, has officially resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), signalling another high-profile exit from the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makarfi, who played a vital role in the APC’s success during the 2023 presidential election that brought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to power, tendered his resignation in a formal letter addressed to the party’s ward chairman in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The letter, dated July 6, 2025, was delivered quietly but has since sparked significant political interest across the state.
Although Makarfi did not give an explicit reason for his departure, political observers believe the move may be linked to the ongoing wave of defections and political realignments as politicians begin to position themselves for the 2027 general elections. Several insiders suggest that internal party disagreements, unmet expectations, and the shifting political climate may have influenced his decision.
“I remain grateful for the experiences and relationships I have built within the party,” Makarfi wrote in the brief letter, suggesting an amicable parting from the APC. He also expressed appreciation for the platform the party provided him over the years, stating that his time with the APC had offered him several opportunities for growth and public service.
Ismail Aliyu Makarfi has long been considered an influential figure in Kaduna politics. Apart from his role as a state commissioner, he is known to have played key strategic roles in the emergence of Governor Uba Sani in Kaduna State and the election of President Tinubu. His exit, therefore, has been described by some political watchers as a setback to the APC’s internal cohesion in the state.
Makarfi’s political journey began during the era of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but he moved to the APC during the realignments that followed the party’s rise to power in 2015. In the 2023 general elections, he was one of the few political operatives who delivered his local government area to the APC despite strong opposition. His loyalty to the party and the Tinubu presidential project earned him a seat on the campaign council and significant respect from both state and national party leaders.
However, tensions have reportedly grown in Kaduna APC ranks since the conclusion of the elections, especially regarding appointments, recognition, and political rewards. Some sources within the party told our correspondent that Makarfi had become increasingly sidelined in the new political arrangements, despite his contributions during the campaigns.
So far, Hon. Makarfi has not announced his next political move or whether he plans to join another party. However, analysts say his next steps will be closely watched, especially given his grassroots support in Makarfi Local Government Area and his broad network across Kaduna State. There are also speculations that he could be courted by the PDP or the Labour Party (LP), both of which are seeking to strengthen their positions in northern Nigeria ahead of the next elections.
His resignation also comes at a time when the APC is struggling to hold its ranks together in several northern states, with reports of similar defections in Kano, Zamfara, and Katsina. The political atmosphere in the north is gradually heating up, with key stakeholders re-evaluating their loyalties in response to internal party dynamics and shifting public sentiments.
Efforts to reach APC officials in Kaduna State for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. However, a party chieftain who pleaded anonymity confirmed Makarfi’s exit, describing it as unfortunate but not entirely surprising.
As the 2027 political season draws nearer, more defections and strategic moves are expected across party lines. For now, the resignation of Ismail Aliyu Makarfi adds to the growing signs of unease within the ruling party and may prompt a reassessment of its political strategy in Kaduna and the wider north.
