Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The African Democratic Congress in Sokoto State has suffered another major blow ahead of the 2027 general elections, as one of its prominent chieftains in Tambuwal Local Government Area, Alhaji Umar Salah, has formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Salah, a former Director-General of the ADC in Tambuwal, was received into the APC on Saturday, September 26, 2026, by the Chairman of the Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board, Umaru Nagwari Tambuwal, with the support of the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmed Ladan Ala. His defection followed a meeting with Governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Government House in Sokoto.
Explaining his decision, Salah said he joined the ruling party because of what he described as the developmental strides of the Aliyu administration across the state. "Governor Ahmed Aliyu has done a lot for the state through the execution of various developmental projects aimed at improving the quality of life of the citizenry," he said. Salah said the governor's achievements prompted him and his supporters to support the administration. He subsequently pledged his "total support" and that of his followers to Aliyu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Receiving Salah into the APC, Nagwari Tambuwal assured him that he would be treated equally with other members of the party. "There is no discrimination in the APC," he said, adding that the new entrant would enjoy the same rights and privileges as other party members. Nagwari Tambuwal also commended Aliyu over the administration's projects across the state and prayed for divine guidance and protection for the governor.
Salah's defection is the latest in a series of movements from the ADC to the APC in Sokoto State. On September 24, 2026, another prominent ADC chieftain and businessman, Alhaji Ahmad Mai Bulawus, popularly known as Amadi Mai Bulawus, defected to the APC with his supporters. Mai Bulawus, a resident of Mana Karama in Sokoto South Local Government Area, announced his defection when Governor Aliyu visited his family during a condolence visit. He attributed his decision to the governor's humility, respect for elders, and achievements across the state. "From today, I want to inform you that I have defected to the APC, and I will support our Governor 100 per cent," he declared.
The defections continued on Saturday, September 26, when two more ADC chieftains, Abubakar Attajiri, the ADC State Deputy Youth Leader, and Aminu Gidan-Kanawa, defected to the APC alongside their supporters. They were received by the APC State Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Adiya, at the party's headquarters in Sokoto. Adiya assured them of equal treatment and expressed confidence that APC candidates would emerge victorious at all levels in the 2027 elections. The two defectors attributed their decision to the achievements of Governor Aliyu and the leadership of Senator Aliyu Wamakko.
The wave of defections from the ADC to the APC in Sokoto State reflects a broader pattern of political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections. In August 2026, a prominent Sokoto businessman and ADC chieftain, Murtala Madugu, resigned from the party and joined the APC, citing the developmental projects being implemented by the Aliyu administration. In July 2026, hundreds of ADC members from Gudu, Binji, and Tangaza Local Government Areas defected to the APC, including former Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Musa Ausa Gidan Madi. In June 2026, the Sokoto South ADC Chairman also defected to the ruling party.
The defections are a significant setback for the ADC in Sokoto State, which had been positioning itself as a formidable opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections. The party has been working to build a strong presence in the state, but the departure of key figures to the ruling APC is a blow to its organisational strength and electoral prospects. For the APC, the defections represent a consolidation of its support base in Sokoto, a state it currently governs, and a boost to its preparations for the 2027 elections.
For Salah, the defection marks a new chapter in his political journey. He had been a prominent figure in the ADC in Tambuwal, and his decision to join the APC is a significant loss for the opposition party. His support, and that of his followers, could strengthen the APC's grassroots mobilisation in Tambuwal and surrounding areas. As the 2027 elections approach, the political landscape in Sokoto State is shifting, and the APC appears to be gaining momentum. The ADC, meanwhile, will need to regroup and find ways to retain its remaining members and attract new supporters if it hopes to remain a viable opposition force in the state.
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