In a candid interview that has sparked fresh debate on political loyalty and sacrifice in Nigeria, Zainab Buba Galadima, daughter of prominent politician Buba Galadima and a former technical assistant in the office of ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has laid bare the unglamorous realities of working at the highest levels of government under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Galadima, who recently resigned from the APC and aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a burgeoning opposition coalition eyeing the 2027 elections, described her role as more of a personal favour to the party than a rewarded position. 
“I was basically a special assistant with shorts — you can’t go anywhere. I did more of a favour to the APC (as technical assistant to the former vice-president Yemi Osinbajo) than they did to me because my service was pro bono. It wasn’t a salary-paying job,” she said during an appearance on the Mic On podcast hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye. 
Her tenure, spanning 2017 to 2019 in the first term of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, involved working on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) projects under Osinbajo’s office. Osinbajo personally recruited her shortly before the 2015 inauguration, she revealed. Yet, despite the high-profile nature of the position, there was no financial compensation. 
Galadima’s revelations come as she distances herself from the party she helped form, expressing regret over her involvement and highlighting internal barriers that she believes hindered progress. She claimed “some forces” within the Presidential Villa prevented Osinbajo from fully implementing his ideas, suggesting that with more freedom, the former vice president “would have done better.” 
A legacy of political fire
As the daughter of Alhaji Buba Galadima, a veteran politician and chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) known for his sharp critiques of the APC, Zainab’s blunt style is no surprise. Her father was a key figure in the opposition that led to the APC’s formation, but has since become one of its fiercest critics. 
In the wide-ranging interview, Galadima reflected on her grassroots political journey, the shortcomings of the APC-led administrations, and the challenges facing Nigeria’s youth. She expressed a lack of pride in helping establish the APC, citing unfulfilled promises and governance failures.
Her defection adds to a wave of notable exits from the ruling party, as opposition figures coalesce around platforms like the ADC to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Galadima emphasised the need for unity among opposition forces, warning of rising discontent, particularly in the north, and stressing values-driven leadership over entitlement. 
Broader implications for Nigerian politics
Galadima’s account sheds light on the often opaque world of political appointments in Nigeria, where titles may carry prestige but little substance or remuneration for some aides. It also underscores ongoing tensions within the APC, from its early days under Buhari to the current Tinubu era, amid economic hardships, insecurity, and questions over performance.
Observers note that such high-profile defections could signal deeper fractures in the ruling party as the political landscape heats up ahead of the next general elections. Galadima has positioned herself as ready to continue her advocacy, urging young Nigerians to engage responsibly in politics.
Her story resonates in a country where public service is frequently romanticised, yet many insiders recount tales of personal sacrifice with minimal institutional support. As coalitions form and loyalties shift, voices like Galadima’s highlight the personal costs and disillusionments driving Nigeria’s evolving political narrative.
