Senator Haliru Jika has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, Peoples Gazette learnt today.

Mr Jika, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, communicated his resignation in a letter to the chairman of Kafin Madaki Ward, Ganjuwa Local Government Area.

Mr Jika, in the June 16 letter obtained by The Gazette, said he left the ruling APC after his supporters mounted pressure on him to do so, especially since his efforts to obtain the party’s governorship ticket fell through in the May 26 primaries.

Mr Jika said his resignation took immediate effect. A source familiar with the senator’s political moves said he had joined the NNPP, a budding political party backed by Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ibrahim Shekarau and other northern political heavyweights.

The defection comes as Mr Kwankwaso and other NNPP leaders said talks have intensified to form an alliance with Peter Obi of the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.

The APC has recently lost strong members as part of a protracted fallout from its contentious primaries last month. Nonetheless, the party expressed confidence in its readiness to retain power next February.