A former senator representing Sokoto East, Abubakar Umar Gada, has announced his decision to rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general election, ending weeks of speculation over his political alignment.
Gada made the declaration on Saturday at a meeting with supporters in Sokoto, where he said his return to the PDP was aimed at “reclaiming and rebuilding” the party in the state.
He blamed his decision on what he described as leadership stagnation within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto, accusing former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of failing to fully identify with the party months after indicating interest in it.
Gada, who served as senator between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the PDP and defected to the ADC in 2025, said he and Tambuwal were initially regarded as joint leaders of the ADC in the state but argued that leadership required commitment and responsibility.
“My humble self and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal were considered the leaders to drive the party in the state,” he said.
“But leadership means identifying with the people, showing commitment and taking responsibility. For six months, we raised the hope and tempo of the party, but he refused to come and sit down with us to build it.”
He alleged that Tambuwal’s failure to participate in ADC activities created uncertainty about his political intentions.
“You cannot be talking to the APC on one hand, being promoted as a vice-presidential option for Peter Obi on the other hand, and still refuse to register or allow your supporters to register in the ADC,” Gada said.
According to him, the situation left the ADC in a state of uncertainty in Sokoto, forcing him to return to the PDP.
Gada also criticised what he termed political “ingratitude,” referencing Tambuwal’s rise from Speaker of the House of Representatives to a two-term governor of the state.
Meanwhile, PDP supporters present at the event described Gada’s declaration as a boost to the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 elections. One of them, Alhaji Hamza Yabo, said the move signalled the beginning of the PDP’s revival after its defeat in the 2023 polls.
Another supporter, Alhaji Hamza Gatawa, said the process of reclaiming the party had commenced, while Hajia Mariam Kabi called on women and youths to support Gada’s political ambition, urging eligible youths to register for their Permanent Voter Cards.
The ADC had gained prominence in Sokoto politics in 2024 following internal crises within the PDP. Tambuwal, who governed the state from 2015 to 2023 and currently serves as a senator, has yet to respond publicly to Gada’s allegations.
Gada is expected to formally complete his return to the PDP at the state level in the coming weeks as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, reacting to the development, the Sokoto State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hassan Sayinnawal, dismissed the declaration, insisting that the party was unaware of Gada’s return.
“We are not aware of his coming to the PDP. Nobody received him, and even in his ward and local government, they are not aware of his coming,” he said.
“As far as we are concerned, his name is not in our register at the ward, local government, state or national level.”
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