Supporters of the former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa have formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening a wave of political realignment in the north-western state.
The decision, taken under the banner of the Bafarawa Akida Movement, was announced on Wednesday after a high-level consultative meeting that brought together elders and leaders from all 23 local government areas of Sokoto.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the chairman of the movement, Prof Hamza Maishanu, said the move followed extensive consultations and reflected the collective will of members.
“We were once in the PDP, but due to certain developments and internal crises, we all resigned our membership,” Maishanu said, adding that the group had nonetheless retained its political structures across wards, local governments and the state.
After quitting the PDP, he explained, the group adopted the name Bafarawa Akida – a Hausa phrase meaning followers of the political ideology of Attahiru Bafarawa – as a symbol of unity and loyalty to their political mentor. Those principles, he said, included justice, honesty, transparency and people-centred governance, which Bafarawa was known for during his time as governor.
Maishanu said recent shifts in Sokoto’s political landscape had prompted supporters to seek clarity about the movement’s future direction, leading to the elders’ meeting.
“Our supporters wanted to know where we were heading politically,” he said. “Elders from all the 23 local governments freely expressed their views, and the decision they reached was unanimous.”
According to Maishanu, the elders resolved to back the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, citing its performance in office and its cordial relationship with Bafarawa.
“There is an administration in the state that is delivering dividends of democracy and has shown respect to our principal,” he said. “Based on this, we resolved to join hands with the state government.”
He confirmed that this endorsement translated into a formal decision to join the APC, saying the movement was ready to work with the government to advance its development agenda. Further consultations, he added, would be held with other organs of the movement to complete the necessary procedures.
Maishanu dismissed suggestions that the defection was linked to calculations ahead of the 2027 elections or to pressure from national political figures, describing such claims as unfounded. He also framed the move as a return to familiar ground, noting that Bafarawa was among the founding members of the APC and chaired its constitution drafting committee at inception.
“This is not a decision taken by the leadership alone,” he said. “It is the will of the people, and in a democratic setting, when the people decide, the leadership must follow.”
The former governor himself moved to clarify speculation around the defection, reaffirming that he had withdrawn from active politics and denying claims that he had personally joined the APC.
“I have already told you that I quit active politics,” Bafarawa said. “I am not joining the APC, but my supporters cannot be denied their rights of association.”
He said he had encouraged his followers to consult widely before making their decision and had given them his blessing when they resolved to move to the APC. Bafarawa added that, regardless of party affiliation, he would support Governor Aliyu, whom he said treated him with respect, “to succeed” in office.
