Mustapha Inuwa Returns to APC as Radda Urges Katsina Leaders to Put Unity Ahead of Political Differences

A significant political reconciliation is taking shape in Katsina State as former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing members of his political network back into the party.

The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with Governor Dikko Umaru Radda calling on APC stakeholders to accommodate returning politicians and avoid internal disputes over positions, influence and responsibilities.

Inuwa’s return is particularly notable because he and Radda were once rivals for the APC governorship ticket before the 2023 election. The two politicians have now appeared together publicly in a reconciliation that both sides have framed around cooperation and the broader interests of Katsina State.

Radda calls for an open-door approach

Speaking at a reception for Inuwa and his supporters, Radda urged APC leaders at the local and state levels to make room for politicians returning to the party.

The governor said political disagreements should not permanently divide stakeholders, stressing that people who have taken different political positions can still work together for the development of Katsina.

He particularly appealed to APC local government chairmen, members of the State Executive Council and other party officials to avoid creating unnecessary tension around the reintegration of returning members.

The message comes against the backdrop of the APC’s preparations for 2027. In July, Radda had similarly urged APC candidates and party leaders to maintain unity and strengthen grassroots engagement ahead of the general elections.

Inuwa’s political structure returns with him

Inuwa said the political structure associated with him comprises about 220 groups across Katsina State and has maintained grassroots networks through different political platforms over the years.

According to him, a substantial part of the structure has now chosen to align with the Radda administration and return to the APC.

The development therefore extends beyond the return of an individual politician. It potentially brings an established network of supporters into the party’s existing structures across the state’s 34 local government areas.

APC state chairman Bishir Gambo Saulawa welcomed the development, saying Inuwa’s political experience and grassroots relationships could contribute to the party’s organisation across the state.

A rivalry that began with the 2022 APC primary

The latest reconciliation has its roots in the APC governorship primary held in 2022.

Radda won that contest with 506 votes, while Inuwa finished second with 442 votes. Channels Television reported at the time that Inuwa conceded defeat and pledged to support Radda’s bid in the 2023 general election.

The political relationship later became more complicated, with Inuwa subsequently leaving the APC and becoming a critic of the Radda administration. THISDAY reported that his return followed roughly four years of political estrangement from the governor.

The current reunion therefore represents a notable change from the political differences that followed the 2022 contest.

Masari backs reconciliation

Former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari also welcomed Inuwa’s return, describing it as an opportunity for political stakeholders to rebuild relationships and work together in the interest of the state.

The intervention by a former governor adds another layer to the reconciliation effort, particularly as the APC works to maintain cohesion among its various political blocs ahead of the next general election.

The state APC leadership has also continued to emphasise unity. In March 2026, Bishir Gambo Saulawa emerged as chairman of the Katsina APC executive, with the new leadership pledging to promote unity across the state’s 361 wards and 34 local government areas.

Why the development matters ahead of 2027

The significance of Inuwa’s return lies largely in the political networks surrounding him.

Katsina has 34 local government areas and 361 wards, making grassroots organisation a central component of political mobilisation in the state. The return of a political figure with an established network could therefore affect how APC structures coordinate at the local level.

At the same time, the exact electoral impact of the reunion remains something that will have to be demonstrated through subsequent political activity. A public declaration of support does not by itself establish how individual supporters will vote in 2027.

For the APC, however, the immediate issue is organisational cohesion. Radda has repeatedly spoken about strengthening the party’s grassroots structure, while recent party activities have included the inauguration of political mobilisation structures covering all 34 local government areas and 361 wards.

What to watch next

The next phase will likely centre on how Inuwa’s supporters are integrated into existing APC structures and whether the reconciliation translates into coordinated grassroots activities.

Attention will also be on the distribution of political responsibilities within the party as preparations for 2027 advance.

For now, the public message from Radda, Inuwa, Masari and the APC leadership is focused on reconciliation, cooperation and party unity rather than revisiting their previous political differences.

The development marks another chapter in the relationship between two politicians whose paths crossed prominently during the 2022 APC governorship primary—and whose political cooperation could now become part of the party’s broader preparations for the 2027 elections.