It is exactly less than a year from now to the 2023 general elections after which the Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, will quit office for a successor. Expectedly, Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate, has started witnessing the wind of political contest. Posters and bill boards of aspirants have taken spaces across the state with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominating the show.
The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) which is no doubt equally popular in the Caliphate is determined to reclaim the mandate it lost to the PDP in 2019. However, the party is currently struggling to get out of a web of crisis rocking its structures in the state. In line with the party’s desire to return to power in the state, some of its aspirants are already being promoted on social media. One of them is Abubakar Gumbi, a politician many are already quick to refer to as the would-be candidate of the APC.
On his part, Tambuwal has remained quiet on who succeeds him, leaving room for speculations within the ruling PDP in the state about who the governor’s preferred successor is, and where he is likely to come from. Noting the political history of the state from 1999 to date, it is safe to say the governorship seat has been rotated round all the zones in the state.
The Eastern zone was first to produce a governor with the emergence of former Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa in 1999. Former Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko who succeeded him is from the Central zone and now Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from the Western Zone is in office. Expectedly, political players from the Eastern zone of the state are more in the race to succeed the incumbent governor. And the situation is the same in the two leading political parties, perhaps in deference to the unwritten zoning arrangement in the state.
PDP
Within the ruling PDP, those allegedly warming up to contest for the ticket of the party include the current deputy governor, Muhammadu Manir Dan Iya, former Minister of Water Resources, Mukhtari Shehu Shagari and the Commissioner for Environment, Sagir Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa.
Other hopefuls alleged to be eying the PDP gubernatorial ticket are Senator Abdullahi Danbaba Dambuwa, Secretary to the State Government, Malam Ubandoma Alhaji Said Umar, Commissioner of Finance , Abdussamad Ibrahim Dasuki and Umaru Bature.
Dan Iya
From Kware Local Government, the deputy governor, who also holds the title of ‘ Walin Sokoto ‘, has never failed the test of loyalty to a boss. He is a respected grassroots politician who rose through the ranks politically to become deputy governor. His known political godfather in the state is Alhaji Umaru Kwabo. He released the PDP gubernatorial ticket to Tambuwal who defected newly into the party from the APC in 2019 contrary to earlier speculations. It is largely on account of this that many observers are tipping him as the governor’s favourite in the race. The deputy governor is also seen as someone with enough political networks across the state to win a governorship election.
Shagari
By all standards and experience, Barrister Mukhtari Shagari, a former deputy governor of the state and ex-Minsiter, is believed to be an aspirant with significant political niche to clinch the PDP ticket. His credential as an old PDP member is an advantage for him. However, if the zoning pattern is adhered to, Shagari may be edged out of the race as he comes from the same axis with incumbent Governor Tambuwal.
Sagir Bafarawa
Seen as a political dark horse, he is the youngest of all the aspirants currently in the race. He is the son of a former governor, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa. He recently resigned his appointment as Commissioner for Environment. Sagir is from the Eastern zone which is clamouring for the state governorship seat. The zone believes is its turn going by previous pattern. However, Bafarawa senior has been mute over his son’s ambition.
Sen. Dambuwa
The serving PDP Senator representing the western zone of the state is rumoured to be scheming to clinch the PDP guber ticket or negotiate a re-election ticket back to the senate for himself. He is from the same zone as the governor.
Bature
The former House of Reps member and current National Organising Secretary of the opposition PDP, has a track record that stands him out particularly while in the House of Representatives. He has the political maturity, foresight and vision for the job. He represented Sokoto North/ Sokoto South Federal Constituency for four years.
Ubandoma
The current SSG, Mallam Ubandom, Saidu Umar, is one aspirant many people are focusing on as a possible choice of the governor. Many say his capacity and sense of prudence have endeared him to Tambuwal. He remains a leading aspirant on the platform of the PDP.
APC
Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto clinched the party’s ticket ahead of other close contenders in 2019. The Police Trust Fund Executive Secretary has always remained the political godson of former governor Aliyu Wamakko. He is still one of his ardent loyalists. Sokoto is still desirous of governing the state and will be seeking the APC ticket in 2023.
Others still eying and likely to contest the party’s ticket for the state governorship seat with Sokoto include Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir from Sokoto East, Farouk Malami Yabo (Sokoto West), A.A Gumbi from Sokoto Central and likely Yusuf Suleiman from Sokoto East.
The party has been mute on the zoning debate and many analysts are of the opinion that should the party favour the eastern zone, Senator Gobir will be in good stead for the ticket.
This is just as party sources and pundit predict that Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, APC’s 2019 guber candidate, who is not favoured by the current zoning permutations, may still pull a surprise at the primaries.
In spite of the uncertainties in the party, the APC is optimistic that it is in a position to win the 2023 guber election in the state. A member of the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Al-Mustapha, expressed confidence that the opposition party will take over Sokoto State come 2023. The APC chieftain, who represents the Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, insisted that, “Sokoto is an APC State.
“It is just exigencies of politics that we lost the state in 2019. I believe even those in the PDP will soon join us. So, Insha Allahu, come 2023, APC will take over Sokoto State, God willing.”