Ex-Air Chief Saddique Abubakar Quits Politics Amid Wife’s EFCC Probe

ABUJA — The former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar (rtd), has officially announced his complete retirement from active politics, putting an end to months of intense speculation surrounding his political future and alignment.

​Abubakar, who served with distinction at the helm of the Nigerian Air Force, transitionally moved into public diplomacy following his military career when he was appointed as a non-career ambassador. Seeking to establish a domestic political footprint, he subsequently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and secured the party’s ticket to contest the hotly contested Bauchi State governorship election in 2023. Following his defeat at the polls to the incumbent governor, Abubakar notably did not receive any subsequent federal or political appointments, leaving him largely sidelined within the state’s political hierarchy.

​Prior to his formal announcement to step away from the political arena, internal party sources revealed that the retired military top brass was facing severe pressure. Rumours had heavily circulated that Abubakar was on the verge of resigning his membership from the APC to pitch his tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Insiders suggest this friction stemmed from feelings of alienation after the APC leadership refused to bend party conventions or intervene in the ongoing federal investigations involving his household.

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​Despite drawing the curtain on his partisan political career, Abubakar clarified that his retirement does not equate to total detachment from his roots. He emphasized that he remains deeply committed to the socio-economic development of Bauchi State and will continue to offer his wealth of experience to community-building and philanthropic initiatives outside the structure of political parties.

​Household Under Scrutiny

​Abubakar’s political exit comes at a turbulent time for his family, as his wife, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq—the pioneer Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development—remains a central figure in a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown. Umar-Farouq, who was once the subject of intense, albeit false, social media fabrications claiming she was set to marry former President Muhammadu Buhari, is currently facing severe scrutiny from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

​The anti-graft agency has been tracking the former minister to definitively answer for her stewardship and explain the alleged mismanagement of billions of Naira allocated to social investment programmes under her ministry’s purview (Etido Atakpa, 2025). Observers note that the federal government’s unyielding stance on the investigation has effectively shattered any hopes the camp had of leveraging political patronage for administrative immunity.