Loading ...ABUJA, NIGERIA — The political landscape of Sokoto State has witnessed a massive shift ahead of the next electoral cycle following the official defection of Mallam Sa’idu Umar Ubandoma, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer in the 2023 governorship election, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ubandoma was formally received into the APC fold by the leader of the party in Sokoto State and former Governor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, during a high-profile political meeting at Wamakko’s private residence in the Asokoro district of Abuja.
Shifting Allegiances in the Seat of the Caliphate
Ubandoma’s cross-carpeting deals a devastating blow to the opposition PDP in Sokoto State, where he served as a key foundational pillar and the driving force of the party’s structure during the hotly contested 2023 gubernatorial race.
Insiders state that Ubandoma’s decision to jump ship follows months of intense internal consultation and strategic overtures by the APC leadership, who are aggressively consolidating their grip on the North-West geopolitical zone. By pulling the former PDP standard-bearer into the ruling party, the APC has effectively dismantled a significant portion of the opposition’s remaining grassroots machinery in the state.
Wamakko Welcomes the Heavyweight
Receiving the new defector in Abuja, Senator Wamakko praised Ubandoma’s political sagacity, noting that his entry into the APC is a testament to the party’s commitment to inclusive governance and structural growth. Wamakko assured the former governorship candidate that he and his thousands of loyalists across Sokoto’s 23 local government areas would be accorded equal rights and privileges within the progressive family.
Political analysts view this Abuja meeting as a deliberate tactical move to finalize the realignment away from local state pressures, signaling a unified front as the APC fortifies its structures.
The 2027 Calculus
With Ubandoma now firmly aligned with Wamakko’s formidable political structure, the political equations for the 2027 general elections in Sokoto State are being completely rewritten.
Local PDP stakeholders are reportedly locked in emergency meetings to assess the damage of this high-profile exit, while the APC camp celebrates what many consider a decisive pre-election victory that significantly weakens the opposition’s capacity to mount a major challenge in the state.
