In a notable political shift within Borno State, Hon. Usman Midala Balami, the federal lawmaker representing the Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has officially parted ways with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
Balami, who currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Communications, has formally defected to the Accord Party, where he plans to run for re-election to retain his seat in the National Assembly.
Grievances Over Internal Party Primaries
In his resignation letter, dated September 15, 2026, and submitted to the APC leadership—with confirmation and endorsement from his Hawul Local Government Area Ward Chairman—Balami detailed the reasons behind his exit.
Central to his decision were serious reservations regarding the conduct and integrity of the party’s internal primary elections:
Lack of Transparency: Balami highlighted that the environment surrounding the APC primaries failed to guarantee a fair, credible, and level playing field for competing aspirants.
Boycott: Unwilling to participate in a process he viewed as flawed, the lawmaker chose to step aside from the APC internal contest altogether in search of an alternative platform.
A Measured Departure
Despite his exit, Balami avoided leveling bitter accusations against his former party. He noted that the move followed extensive consultations with key political figures, community stakeholders, family members, and core supporters across his constituency.
Reflecting on his journey, Balami expressed gratitude to the APC leadership for granting him the ticket that initially brought him to the National Assembly, acknowledging that his time within the ruling party played a key role in shaping his political career and public service experience.
With his transition to the Accord Party now finalized, Balami turns his focus toward securing a second term in office under his new party banner.
