Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto State, Hayatu Tafida Aminu, has dismissed the defection of the former state chairman, Muhammad Bello Aliyu Goronyo, to the African Democratic Congress, describing the development as "not a surprise" and insisting that Goronyo had effectively abandoned the party nine months ago. Goronyo resigned his membership of the PDP in a letter dated August 30, 2026, citing "purely personal" reasons, and was appointed Director-General of the campaign organisation of the ADC governorship candidate, Manir Muhammad Dan'Iya, barely hours later.
Speaking with newsmen in his office on Tuesday, Aminu alleged that Goronyo had been operating as a de facto member of the ADC while still occupying the position of PDP chairman. "Bello Goronyo was the former chairman of the PDP, but he left the party about nine months ago because, in the Nigerian context, he cannot be in two parties at the same time," Aminu said. "He was acting as a de facto member of ADC, as well as parading himself as the chairman of the PDP, which is not possible".
The PDP chairman insisted that Goronyo's appointment as ADC campaign director-general merely formalised what he described as an existing political relationship between the former PDP chairman and the opposition party. "Goronyo has always been a loyal party member on their side of the ADC, but in disguise, because he attends ADC activities as well as parading himself as the party chairman of the PDP," he alleged.
Aminu also declared that the prolonged factional crisis in the Sokoto PDP had been resolved, insisting that his leadership controlled the authentic structure of the party in the state. He said the party had rebuilt its structures from the ward level, conducted internal elections and subsequently produced candidates for the 2027 elections. According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission had uploaded the candidates produced by his faction, which he said demonstrated that the electoral body recognised his leadership. "Fortunately enough, INEC uploaded our candidates as the authentic members of the PDP and contestants. Everybody could see it at the INEC offices," he said.
Aminu dismissed claims by Goronyo's faction that a court judgment failed to recognise either of the competing groups as the authentic PDP structure in the state. "That is their own argument and their own interpretation of the judgment," he said. "But if they think they are authentic, why is he leaving the party? Why are they leaving the party?" He further pointed to the movement of other prominent members linked to the rival faction to different political platforms, arguing that their actions amounted to an admission that they had abandoned the PDP.
Despite the increasingly heated political exchange, Aminu said the PDP would not institute legal proceedings against Goronyo over his resignation or subsequent appointment by the ADC. "We do not intend taking any legal action against him or the other people of the so-called PDP," he said. The chairman, however, acknowledged Goronyo's past influence on his political career, describing the former chairman as his former boss. "He was my boss actually. I was in the PDP before under his leadership of the PDP, when we were together. All of us, I even contested under his leadership then," Aminu said.
Aminu maintained that Goronyo's departure would not weaken the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections, declaring that the party remained united under his leadership. "The PDP is one, under the leadership of Umaru Bature, who is our National Secretary, and I, Hayatu Tafida, as the chairman. We do not have any other faction of the PDP," he said.
Goronyo had announced his resignation in a letter dated August 30, 2026, addressed to the PDP Chairman of Goronyo Ward, Goronyo Local Government Area, stating that his resignation would take effect from August 31, 2026. The letter read, "I hereby formally notify you of my intention to resign my membership of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Goronyo Ward, Goronyo Local Government Area, effective from today, 31st August, 2026. The reason for my resignation is purely personal".
Barely hours after his resignation, Goronyo was appointed Director-General of Dan'Iya's 2027 governorship campaign organisation. Reacting to the appointment, Dan'Iya congratulated Goronyo, describing his selection as a "strategic choice" that reflected the confidence of the ADC leadership and stakeholders in his experience, capacity and commitment to Sokoto State. According to Dan'Iya, Goronyo's previous experience as chairman of the PDP in Sokoto State, as well as his service as a former commissioner under the administration of former Governor Aminu Tambuwal, had equipped him with the institutional knowledge and grassroots understanding needed to lead the ADC campaign.
The development comes as political activities intensify in Sokoto ahead of the 2027 elections, with Goronyo's defection to the ADC highlighting the intensifying political realignments shaping the emerging political landscape in the state. The resignation and subsequent appointment underscore the deepening rivalries within the PDP and the aggressive push by opposition parties to position themselves for electoral success in the upcoming general elections. For now, Aminu insists the PDP remains strong and united under his leadership—but with key figures defecting and political loyalties shifting, the battle for Sokoto's political soul is far from over.
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