2027 Sokoto Guber: Incumbency vs Fresh Alternative As APC, ADC Mobilize Ahead Of Polls

2027 Sokoto Guber: Incumbency vs Fresh Alternative As APC, ADC Mobilize Ahead Of Polls

By Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto

Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through freely elected representatives. It is anchored on principles of free and fair elections, rule of law, accountability, and respect for fundamental human rights.

In Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, democracy has been practiced through periodic elections at federal, state and local government levels since 1999. The 2027 general elections will therefore mark another test of the country’s democratic culture, as citizens elect leaders who will steer governance for the next four years.

With the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, expected to release the timetable for the 2027 general elections in the coming months, political activities are already gathering momentum in Sokoto State.

In Sokoto, key contenders including incumbent Governor Ahmed Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Deputy Governor, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, are being positioned by their supporters as frontrunners.

*Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, APC Governorship Candidate*

Governor Ahmed Aliyu is the incumbent governor and candidate of the APC for the 2027 election, administering the state on his 9-Point Smart Agenda covering security, education, health, agriculture, youth empowerment and infrastructure. He is seeking re-election to consolidate what his party describes as giant strides.

A trained Accountant, his public service career spans Finance Clerk, Cashier, Director of Finance, Commissioner for Health, Commissioner for Social Welfare and Deputy Governor from 2015 to 2018. He enjoys the mentorship of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sokoto North.

Speaking at a recent meeting convened by the Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, the State APC Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Sarkin-Gobir Adiya, said the party is ready and urged voters to re-elect Governor Aliyu.

Adiya said on security, the governor established the Community Guards from the 23 LGAs and procured 62 armored vehicles, 700 motorcycles and 200 Hilux for security agencies. On education, he said government paid WAEC, NECO, NABTEB fees, renovated schools, retrained teachers and pays salaries promptly. On youth empowerment, he cited skill acquisition, digital training and grants. On health, he said 160 out of 244 primary health centres were renovated and hospitals upgraded. On agriculture, farmers received free fertilizer, tractors and inputs. On water, the Sokoto intake was rehabilitated with solar power, while roads were constructed to link farmers to markets. Salaries, he said, are paid on or before the 28th and pensions by the 20th.

As incumbent, Aliyu has the advantage of incumbency, party structure and federal alignment. However, he will face scrutiny over delivery as Sokoto still ranks low on social indices, while national economic hardship and cost of living will feature in campaigns.

*Hon. Manir Dan’iya, ADC Governorship Candidate*

Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, Walin Sokoto, is the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Speaking on his candidacy, the Director-General of the 2027 Manir Dan’iya Campaign Organization, Alhaji Bello Aliyu Goronyo, described Dan’iya as a consummate politician who began his political career from the grassroots at the local government level.

“Hon. Manir Mohammed Dan’iya, Walin Sokoto is a consummate politician, who began his political career from the grassroots at Local Government level, from Staff of Kware LG to Councilor, Special Adviser to Hon Speaker, House of Reps, Hon Commissioner for Local Government, then rose to become the Deputy to a governor, who happens to be one of the most exposed and enlightened politicians in Nigeria, Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. He was therefore, an integral part of a purposeful, progressive administration, that got the accolades of national and global agencies,” Goronyo said.

According to the DG, Dan’iya is the man to restore Sokoto State on the path of progressive and inclusive governance.

“Munir Dan’iya is therefore, the man to restore Sokoto State on the path of progressive and inclusive governance, being a unifier of varied political interests in the state, that will free Sokoto from the three years of politics of hate and vendetta that has stagnated the state’s development in all sectors. He will bring competence, sanity and capacity back to governance and the civil service and restore confidence in the capacity of government to deliver service to the people,” he said.

Goronyo added that Dan’iya and the ADC are the answer to economic stagnation.

“Dan’iya and the ADC are the answer to the current state of economic stagnation of the state, caused by the anti-business posture of the current APC regime both at state and national levels. These sentiments are overwhelmingly shared by the people of Sokoto at state level just as it is nationwide, which is clearly indicated by the fast dwindling approval rating of APC governments at all levels, especially with their unmitigated failure to deal with the wanton blood shedding in all parts of the country. The government of ADC in Sokoto will work with its counterpart at the center to address the problem once and for all,” the Campaign DG stated.

Earlier, his spokesperson, Aminu Abdullahi Abubakar, said Dan’iya at a little over 50 represents youth, experience and competence, being a trained Accountant with background in public finance. He said Dan’iya’s priority will be to secure Sokoto through intelligence-led cooperation with security agencies and communities, rebuild the economy through entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and access to productive resources, and reform education by rehabilitating schools and integrating modern technology, digital learning and Artificial Intelligence from primary level upward. His vision also includes modernizing healthcare, improving potable water, supporting agriculture and small businesses, empowering women and youth, developing Sokoto’s untapped mineral resources, promoting sports and strengthening transparency and accountability.

On strengths, Dan’iya brings grassroots pedigree, name recognition from his time as Deputy Governor, Commissioner and federal lawmaker, and the backing of Senator Tambuwal, with ADC positioned as an alternative. His weakness remains that ADC lacks the deep structure, funding and incumbency advantage of APC in a state long dominated by APC versus PDP.