Sokoto PDP crisis deepens as factions produce two guber candidates, excos

From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto

The internal crisis rocking the Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated into a full-blown factional war at the weekend following the emergence of two parallel state executive committees and two separate governorship candidates.
​The division reached a tipping point on Saturday when a faction loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike held a convention in Sokoto, affirming Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Sokoto as its “sole governorship candidate” ahead of the state’s upcoming gubernatorial election.
​Meanwhile, a rival faction of the party—believed to be loyal to the mainstream leadership—held its own parallel exercise to elect a separate state executive structure and candidate, effectively splitting the opposition party into two distinct camps in the state.
​The emergence of two competing leadership structures and candidates has thrown the state chapter into fresh legal and political uncertainty. Analysts warn that the deepening rift could severely jeopardize the PDP’s chances at the polls if the national leadership fails to reconcile the warring factions before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadlines.
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 “