Power Struggle Brews in Sokoto APC Over Kware/Wamakko Seat
By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi
As the All Progressives Congress APC, continues to adopt consensus arrangements across states, internal discontent among aspirants and party members appears to be deepening.
Findings by GaskiyaCast indicate that the Sokoto State chapter of the APC is not exempt from this growing tension, particularly among aspirants contesting legislative positions.
The Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency has emerged as a flashpoint. The constituency holds strategic importance as it is home to the former Governor of Sokoto State and leader of the APC in the state, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.
It is widely known that the incumbent Member representing the constituency Hon. Ahmad Kalambaina, emerged as the party’s candidate through a consensus arrangement reportedly spearheaded by Senator Wamakko. However, the decision has reportedly left lingering resentment, especially from the Deputy Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Kware.
Sources revealed that ahead of the 2023 general elections, an informal understanding was reached in which Hon. Kabiru Kware agreed to step down his ambition to allow Hon. Kalambaina secure a return ticket to the House of Representatives. In return, it was allegedly agreed that the seat would be ceded to Kware Local Government Area in 2027.
Hon. Kware, who represents Kware constituency in the State Assembly had reportedly raised concerns about what he described as longstanding marginalisation of Kware Local Government, noting that Wamakko Local Government had dominated the federal seat since the return to democracy in 1999.
The protest was said to have been acknowledged by Senator Wamakko, who reportedly assured that the seat would be zoned to Kware in 2027. It was further gathered that the then APC governorship candidate, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, suggested formalising the agreement in writing.
However, Hon. Kware reportedly declined, expressing confidence in the Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko’s commitment, and instead requested that Ahmed Aliyu serve as a witness to the understanding.
However, as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, investigations suggest that the alleged agreement may have been sidelined. Sources claim that Hon. Kware was neither invited to the meeting where the consensus candidate emerged nor officially informed of the decision.
The reported re-emergence of Hon. Kalambaina as the preferred candidate is said to have angered the Deputy Speaker, who questioned the abandonment of the earlier understanding. According to sources, he confronted Governor Ahmed Aliyu, expressing frustration over what he described as a breach of trust.
The governor was reportedly able to calm tensions during the encounter, acknowledging the concerns raised.
Meanwhile, supporters of the APC in the state have continued to express dissatisfaction with the consensus approach, accusing party leaders of favouring incumbents at the expense of transparency and fairness to other aspirants.
