Former Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Bauchi State Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections, Air Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar (rtd), has announced his retirement from active politics.
Air Marshal Abubakar served as CAS from July 21, 2015 – January 29, 2021 and was immediately on retirement was appointed the Nigerian Ambassador to Chad.
But in the same year of his retirement and Ambassadorial assignment, he entered partisan politics and joined the contest for the Governorship of Bauchi State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Generally, his joining politics so soon after retirement was surprising to his superiors and subordinates in the military.
While serving as Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar married the then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq. The wedding Fatiha took place on Friday, September 18, 2020, at the Maitama Juma’a Mosque in Abuja.
But Hajiya Farouq has been embattled since leaving office as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared her wanted for an alleged case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and the diversion of public funds. The EFCC declaration was published in an official wanted bulletin on its website on May 9, 2026
Air Marshal Abubakar, in a short video message released in Hausa on Saturday, described the decision to quit politics, which he said was based on personal grounds, as difficult and apologised to his supporters.
“Today, with a heavy heart, I have made the difficult decision to leave politics for personal reasons. This decision did not come easily, considering the love, support and affection shown to me by the people of Bauchi State and Nigerians since I joined politics in 2021,” he said.
He emerged as a major opposition candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Bauchi State but lost to Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said although he was stepping away from partisan politics, he would continue contributing to the development of Bauchi State, particularly in health and education, through his Marshal Care Foundation.
In recent weeks, posters linking him to a possible 2027 Governorship bid under the Action Democratic Party (ADP) had surfaced across parts of Bauchi metropolis.
Abubakar thanked his supporters and prayed for continued peace and progress in Bauchi State and the country.
“I sincerely apologise to all my supporters and well-wishers over this difficult decision, and I wish everyone the very best,” he added.
He also prayed for stability and development in Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.
