Former Air Marshal Saddiqu Baba Abubakar Exits Politics

Saddiqu Baba Abubakar, a retired three-star Air Marshal and former Chief of Air Staff, announced his departure from politics over the weekend. He previously contested for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State but lost to the incumbent governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.

Abubakar's announcement comes amid a backdrop of political factionalism and ongoing court cases within the APC. His political career, which began after his retirement from the Nigerian Air Force in 2021, has been marked by significant military leadership, overseeing major operations and logistics.

The political landscape in Nigeria has seen a surge of former military personnel entering politics since the return to civilian rule in 1999, reflecting a complex relationship between military and political spheres. Abubakar's exit raises questions about the future of political engagement for retired military officials in Nigeria.