Bafarawa’s Political Structure Moves to APC, Endorses Gov Aliyu for Second Term
Hundreds of supporters loyal to former Sokoto State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Attahiru Bafarawa, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), collapsing his long-standing political structure into the ruling party in the state.
The mass defection, which took place on Wednesday, came with Mr Bafarawa’s open endorsement of incumbent Governor Ahmed Aliyu for a second term, despite his continued membership of the PDP.
Speaking to reporters in Sokoto, Mr Bafarawa confirmed that while he is not personally joining the APC, he fully supports the decision of his followers to defect.
“I have already made it clear that I have quit active politics. I am not joining the APC, but I cannot deny my supporters their right to political association.
“When they informed me of their intention, I asked them to consult widely. When they returned to tell me they had decided to join the APC, I gave them my blessings,” Mr Bafarawa stated.
Despite announcing his retirement from active politics earlier in 2024, the former governor said he would personally back Governor Aliyu’s re-election bid, stressing that his support was based on the governor’s character rather than party affiliation.
“Governor Aliyu respects me and treats me like a father. Even if my supporters had not joined the APC, I would not oppose Governor Ahmed Aliyu. I will always support him to succeed,” Mr Bafarawa said.
The defecting supporters are operating under the banner of the Bafarawa Akida Movement, which cited deepening internal crises within the PDP as the primary reason for abandoning the party.
Leader of the movement, Hamza Maishanu, told journalists that the decision followed extensive consultations across the state.
“We were once members of the PDP, but due to internal crises, we collectively resigned our membership while retaining our political structure across wards and local governments,” Mr Maishanu, a professor, said.
He explained that the group’s decision to align with the APC was influenced by Governor Aliyu’s performance in office and the cordial relationship between the governor and their political mentor, Mr Bafarawa.
Mr Bafarawa remains one of Sokoto State’s most influential political figures. He was the first Executive Governor of the state in the Fourth Republic, serving two terms under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) from 1999 to 2007.
Following a fallout with his deputy and eventual successor, Aliyu Wamakko, in 2007, Mr Bafarawa founded the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and contested the presidential election that year, losing to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Over the next decade, he emerged as a political kingmaker and bridge-builder across party lines, later joining the PDP where he became a major financier. In 2019, he sought the PDP presidential ticket but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In early 2024, Mr Bafarawa announced his withdrawal from active politics, stating that he intended to focus on philanthropy and his role as an elder statesman.
