Sokoto APC Consensus: How Wamakko Edged Out Aspirants in APC
By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi
As Nigeria gradually approaches another election cycle, attention has shifted to how political parties will produce candidates for various elective positions across the country.
Major parties have already begun rolling out their timetable ranging from the sale of nomination forms to screening processes and eventual primaries. Intense contests are expected at different levels, particularly within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC as we fucuses on the outcome of the emergence of APC senatorial candidates in Sokoto State.
Parties likely to feature prominently in the 2027 general elections include APC, PDP, ADC, PRP, NDC, APM, Labour Party, among others.
In Sokoto State, Governor Ahmad Aliyu of the APC is rounding off his first term in office. He is widely expected to secure the party’s ticket for a second term, as no strong contender has openly declared interest in challenging him within the party.
APC Strategy on Senatorial Seats
However, the situation is quite different for legislative positions. Several politicians have shown interest in contesting for seats in the Senate.
Sources reveal to GaskiyaCast that the APC leadership in Sokoto has effectively barred aspirants from publicly declaring their intentions. The move according to insiders, is part of a broader strategy led by the party’s leader in the state and former governor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who is believed to favor a “selection over election” approach in determining candidates despite calls from party members for fresh faces in some constituencies.
Sokoto Central: A No-Go Area
The Sokoto Central Senatorial seat is widely regarded as a “no-go area” as it is seen as exclusively reserved for Senator Wamakko.
Since leaving office as governor in 2015, the 72 year old has represented the district in the Senate. Traditionally, the seat was considered the preserve of the Sultan of Sokoto family, but Wamakko broke that convention to claim it.
Many observers had expected the 2027 election to mark his retirement from active politics, especially given concerns about age and calls for generational change. However, indications suggest that Wamakko is set to seek re-election once again.
Sokoto South: Danbaba Reinstated
For Sokoto South, the APC leadership appears to have settled on Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba as its preferred candidate.
Danbaba, a former Director of Finance at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, first entered the Senate in 2015. His political journey has been eventful defecting to the PDP, losing his seat to APC’s Senator Shehu Tambuwal in 2019 and later reclaiming it through a court ruling.
In 2023, he returned to the APC but lost the senatorial contest to Former governor , Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. Following APC’s victory in the state, his supporters expressed dissatisfaction over his perceived marginalization.
Sources suggest that Wamakko’s endorsement of Danbaba may be a compensatory move. Other prominent figures believed to have shown interest in the seat include former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya rtd, Muktari Shagari, and Prof. Musa Maitafsir.
The stage is now set for a potential rematch between Danbaba and Senator Tambuwal in 2027.
Sokoto East: Battle Lines Drawn
In Sokoto East, relations between Wamakko and Senator Ibrahim Lamido the Senator representing the District currently have deteriorated significantly since after the 2023 elections, culminating in Lamido’s defection from the APC.
According to sources, Wamakko is determined to politically teach Lamido a political lesson. To achieve this, he has to bring a money bag like him, hence his reported backing of Umar Ajiya, a former top finance official at the NNPC, as the APC candidate.
Observers have questioned the decision, noting that more experienced politicians were overlooked. Among those believed to have shown interest are Isah Sadiq Achida, former state APC chairman and current North West zonal secretary of the party, former lawmaker Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar; and serving House of Representatives member Arc. Almustapha Rabah.
Meanwhile, Lamido was to build a formidable political structure within the District and join the ADC with the structure, attracting key political figures including a federal lawmaker and former local government leaders.
Internal discontent and opposition focus within the APC, as Wamakko’s decisions have reportedly caused unease among some party supporters.
Notably, the political bloc associated with former governor Attahiru Bafarawa is believed to have been sidelined, despite speculation that his son, Sagir Bafarawa, could have been considered for a senatorial ticket. But in defence some sources close to Gawon Nama residence of Wamakko indicated that another reason for opting for Umar Ajiya is his affiliation with Attahiru Bafarawa’s political family.
As things stand, attention is gradually shifting to opposition parties particularly the ADC to see how they will position themselves against the APC in what promises to be a highly competitive election.
