2027: 19 Candidates Line Up for Sokoto Governorship Amid Fresh PDP Rift
By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi
Nineteen candidates have been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as contenders for the Sokoto State governorship election scheduled for 2027.
The provisional list was displayed at the INEC state headquarters in Sokoto on Saturday and sighted by our correspondent.
The list reflects a wide spread of political parties, including the Action Alliance (AA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Democratic Party ADP, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP, National Rescue Movement (NRM), African Action Congress (AAC), Accord, Young Progressives Party (YPP), National Democratic Party (NDP, Labour Party LP, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Among those listed are Aliyu Shamsudeen Ahmad of the NDC, Abdullah Sokoto Abubakar of the PDP, Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya of the ADC, and the incumbent governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, who is seeking a second term on the APC platform.
The number of candidates on the provisional list signals a potentially crowded governorship race, with the various parties expected to intensify consultations, mobilisation and campaign activities ahead of the election.
However, the PDP’s position in the race remains complicated by the leadership crisis that has continued to divide the party.
Abdullah Sokoto Abubakar’s listing as the PDP candidate is linked to the faction associated with the Wike/Bature bloc, while the rival faction has yet to publicly endorse the development.
Speaking on the matter, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, Publicity Secretary of the opposing PDP faction, said the group was studying the list before taking a position.
“We are studying the situation carefully and will make our position known to the public soon,” he said.
Sanyinnawal urged party members and supporters to remain calm, warning against actions that could further aggravate the crisis.
“We urge all our supporters to remain calm and patient. There is no need for anybody to panic or take any action in haste” he added.
The development adds another layer to the unfolding political contest in Sokoto, where the APC, PDP, ADC and other parties are expected to battle for control of the state ahead of the 2027 polls.
With 19 candidates currently appearing on the provisional list, the governorship election is set to generate heightened political activity as parties intensify their efforts to win voters across the state.
