Sokoto: 2023 PDP governorship candidate defects to APC

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Malam Sa’idu Umar Ubandoma, has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing his decision to the leadership of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and the performance of Governor Ahmed Aliyu.

The high-profile defection is widely seen as a significant boost for the APC in Sokoto and another major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties continue to reposition themselves across the country.

Ubandoma, a former Commissioner for Finance and Secretary to the Sokoto State Government under former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was formally received into the APC by Senator Wamakko at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Wamakko’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashar Abubakar.

Welcoming the former opposition governorship candidate into the APC, Wamakko described the defection as evidence of the party’s growing acceptance among political stakeholders and residents of Sokoto State.

According to the former governor, the decision by prominent political figures to join the APC reflects increasing confidence in the party’s leadership and commitment to the development of the state.

“This defection is a significant boost to our party and a clear demonstration of the confidence that political leaders continue to have in the APC’s leadership and development agenda,” Wamakko said.
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He assured Ubandoma and his supporters of fairness, inclusion and equal opportunities within the ruling party, stressing that the APC remains open to every citizen committed to promoting peace, unity and sustainable development in Sokoto State.

“The APC is a home for all well-meaning citizens who are genuinely committed to the unity, peace and development of Sokoto State. You and your supporters will enjoy a warm reception and equal opportunities within the party,” he added.

Explaining why he left the PDP, Ubandoma said he was impressed by Senator Wamakko’s political maturity, inclusive leadership style and the developmental projects being executed by Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration.

According to him, the government’s investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, rural development and social welfare have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of residents across the state.

“I was inspired by the quality of leadership and political maturity demonstrated by Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, as well as the remarkable performance of Governor Ahmed Aliyu in delivering people-oriented projects across Sokoto State,” he said.

Ubandoma maintained that the administration’s achievements across key sectors convinced him that the APC offers the most credible platform to sustain development, economic growth and prosperity in Sokoto State.

“The achievements recorded across critical sectors convinced me that the APC remains the most credible platform to sustain the development and prosperity of Sokoto State,” he stated.

Ubandoma contested the 2023 Sokoto State governorship election on the platform of the PDP before later aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following internal disagreements within the opposition party. He is regarded as one of the prominent political associates of former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, making his latest move one of the most notable political developments in the state in recent months.

Political observers believe the defection could strengthen the APC’s influence in Sokoto ahead of the 2027 elections while further weakening the opposition’s political structure in the state.

The development also reflects the growing wave of defections and political realignments across Nigeria, with several politicians changing party affiliations as preparations gradually gather momentum for the next electoral cycle.

Analysts say such movements are expected to shape alliances, determine party strategies and influence electoral calculations as political parties intensify efforts to consolidate their support base before the 2027 general elections.

Sokoto: 2023 PDP governorship candidate defects to APC

Ogun 2027: Group Rejects Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorses Adebutu

A political pressure group, Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders’ Conference, has rejected the governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, arguing that only aspirants with verifiable local roots and a longstanding commitment to the region should represent Ogun West.

The group, however, threw its weight behind the governorship aspiration of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, describing him as a true son of Ogun State whose ancestry and political journey are closely tied to the state.

Addressing journalists in Ilaro on Thursday, the group’s spokesperson, Hakeem Adetunji, said the organisation, which he claimed has about 5,000 members across Ogun West, was compelled to respond to what it described as attempts to portray opponents of Senator Adeola’s ambition as enemies of the district.

According to Adetunji, the group’s opposition to Adeola is rooted in his alleged lack of historical involvement in the political struggles of Ogun West and what it described as his failure to support previous governorship aspirations from the senatorial district.

Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders’ Conference

“We are here to rewrite our story because, over time, people have called us bastards simply because we do not support Senator Olamilekan Adeola’s governorship ambition,” he said.

He argued that during the 2011 governorship election involving the late General Adetunji Olurin and the 2015 election in which Gboyega Isiaka (GNI) contested, Senator Adeola was not part of the political movement for Ogun West.

Adetunji further alleged that in 2019, Adeola worked against the region’s governorship interest and repeated the same pattern in 2023 by opposing the candidacy of Biyi Otegbeye, who emerged as the sole governorship candidate from Ogun West.

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According to him, the senator allegedly deployed his political influence, resources and network to frustrate Otegbeye’s ambition in pursuit of his own governorship aspiration.

He maintained that the issue extends beyond politics, insisting that Ogun West deserves a candidate who shares the history, identity and aspirations of its people.

“Today, some people expect us to forget where we are coming from and abandon our history. We cannot do that. Senator Adeola does not share our historical background or political journey. That is why some of us cannot align with his governorship ambition,” Adetunji stated.

The group consequently endorsed Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, saying his family roots and connection with Ogun State make him a more suitable choice to lead the state.

“Some of us have identified with the aspiration of Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu because we see him as one of us,” he added.

Another member of the conference, Adeshola Hakeem, also questioned Senator Adeola’s claim to Ogun West, alleging that the lawmaker only identified with the district after relocating his political interest from Lagos State.

He argued that governorship representation should not be determined solely by political popularity but also by genuine community identity, historical contribution and consistent grassroots engagement.

The group’s position comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with Ogun West intensifying its longstanding campaign to produce the state’s next governor.

However, Kayode Odunaro, media adviser to Senator Adeola, dismissed the allegations, describing the conference as a faceless group pursuing a political agenda.

Odunaro maintained that the senator’s indigeneship is well established and no longer a matter for public debate, insisting that Adeola remains qualified to contest the governorship election under Nigeria’s constitutional provisions.

The latest criticism follows Governor Dapo Abiodun’s endorsement of Senator Adeola as the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus governorship candidate for Ogun West after consultations with party leaders across the senatorial district.

Governor Abiodun had said the decision was aimed at ensuring Ogun West, which has never produced a democratically elected governor since the state’s creation in 1976, finally gets the opportunity to occupy the state’s highest political office.

As political alignments continue ahead of the 2027 election, debates over indigeneship, zoning, political loyalty and regional equity are expected to remain central issues in Ogun State’s governorship race.

Ogun 2027: Group Rejects Yayi’s Governorship Bid, Endorses Adebutu

Court Affirms David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a suit that sought to nullify the appointments of Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman held that the suit filed by Leke Abejide, the lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, lacked merit and was not justiciable because it bordered on the internal affairs of a political party. The court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to interfere in such matters except where there is a clear breach of the law or violation of a member’s legal rights.

Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, its former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and Aregbesola, effectively dismissing Abejide’s claims.

The judge held that the plaintiff failed to establish that any of his legal rights had been infringed by the emergence of the current party leadership. He also ruled that Abejide did not exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before instituting the suit, a requirement under the ADC Constitution and established legal principles governing disputes within political parties.

On the substantive issues, the court ruled that the transition of leadership from Ralph Nwosu to David Mark did not violate either the ADC Constitution or the Electoral Act, 2026.

Justice Liman explained that the July 2, 2025, gathering at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja was merely a stakeholders’ meeting where Nwosu announced his intention to hand over the party’s leadership. According to the court, the formal emergence of David Mark and Aregbesola occurred during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court held that the process complied with the party’s constitution and all applicable electoral laws.

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Justice Liman consequently declared that David Mark’s emergence as National Chairman and Aregbesola’s appointment as National Secretary were valid and lawful.

The court also imposed financial penalties on the plaintiff and his counsel. Abejide was ordered to pay ₦2 million in costs to each of the defendants, while his lawyer was directed to pay ₦10 million in costs pursuant to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Abejide had instituted the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, seeking to invalidate the leadership transition within the ADC. He argued that Nwosu’s handover of the party’s leadership to Mark and Aregbesola was unlawful and asked the court to nullify the process.

He also sought perpetual injunctions restraining David Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary and asked the court to prevent INEC from recognising them, alleging that their emergence failed to comply with the Electoral Act.

However, Justice Liman rejected all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff and affirmed the legality of the leadership change, leaving the David Mark-led National Working Committee firmly in charge of the party.

The judgment is regarded as a significant legal victory for the ADC leadership as the opposition party continues preparations for the 2027 general elections. It also comes weeks after INEC reinstated David Mark and other members of the party’s National Working Committee on its official portal following a Supreme Court decision that set aside an earlier Court of Appeal order affecting the party’s leadership recognition. Despite Thursday’s ruling, other suits challenging the ADC leadership remain pending before the courts.

Court Affirms David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Dismisses Abejide’s Suit