Sokoto PDP crisis deepens with emergence of parallel governorship candidates, executives 

From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto

The lingering crisis in the Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened at the weekend with the emergence of two governoship candidates and  two parallel executive committee members.

Our Correspondent in Sokoto reports that the Wike-led faction of the party had on Saturday in Sokoto affirmed Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Sokoto as its ‘sole governorship candidate’.

Also at the event, the faction inaugurated new state executive members, with Alhaji Aminu Hayatu Tafida as Chairman, an exercise presided by Alhaji Mustapha Borodo from the National Headquarters of the party.

Our Correspondent further reports that the exercise was witnessed by the party’s National Organizing Secretary, Hon. Umar Muhammad Bature, also a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Sokoto North and Sokoto South Federal Constituency.

Speaking at the event, Bature said, “On July 11th, 2026, the Court will deliver its verdict on the genuine leaders of the party.”

It could also be recalled that the Tanimu Turaki-led faction had penultimate week affirmed the former Chief Press Secretary for the former Governor of the State, Alhaji Attahiru Dallatu Bafarawa, Alhaji Mustapha Shehu Sokoto as its ‘sole governorship candidate’.

Shehu was also a former Sokoto State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), when he was the elected Chairman of Sokoto North Local Government (ALGON).

The faction, led by Alhaji Bello Aliyu Goronyo, insisted that they are the only legally elected leaders of the PDP in the state.

Reacting to the development, Goronyo told newsmen on Sunday in Sokoto, “we are the only legally elected leaders of the party as it stands now.

“We were duly elected and inaugurated in October 2024 and our mandate legally subsists up to October 2028, so any other person or group of persons claiming to the a leader or leaders of PDP in Sokoto State apart from us is fake.

“Any action deemed to be done by them is therefore null and void and not legally binding.

“Hon. Umar Bature witnessed our election then and he even signed the necessary documents affirming us as the duly recognized executives of the PDP “