Bafarawa supporters defect to APC in Sokoto after consultations, citing PDP crisis and support for Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration
Supporters of former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, operating under the banner of the Bafarawa Akida Movement, on Wednesday formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress in Sokoto State after extensive consultations across the state.
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The decision was announced following a high-level meeting of elders and leaders of the movement drawn from all 23 local government areas.
Speaking to journalists in Sokoto, the chairman of the movement, Professor Hamza Maishanu, said the defection reflected the collective will of members after internal crises within the PDP.
Professor Maishanu said members had resigned from the PDP earlier but retained their political structures at ward, local government and state levels.
He explained that the group adopted the name Bafarawa Akida, meaning followers of the political ideology of Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, to preserve unity and loyalty to the former governor’s principles of justice, transparency and people-oriented governance.
According to Professor Maishanu, recent political realignments in Sokoto prompted supporters to seek clarity on the movement’s direction, leading to consultations with elders from across the state.
He said the elders unanimously resolved to support the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, citing its performance and respectful relationship with Bafarawa.
The chairman confirmed that the endorsement translated into a formal decision to join the APC, describing the move as a practical step to work with the state government and advance its development agenda.
He dismissed suggestions that the decision was influenced by calculations ahead of 2027 elections or pressure from national political figures, calling such claims unfounded.
Professor Maishanu added that the defection represented a return to familiar political ground, noting that Alhaji Bafarawa was among the founding members of the APC and once chaired its Constitution Drafting Committee.
He stressed that the leadership was implementing the will of supporters, describing the decision as people-driven and decisive.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa clarified that he had not personally joined the APC, reiterating his withdrawal from active politics.
He said he merely gave his blessings to his supporters, stressing that he could not deny them their constitutional right to political association.
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The former governor added that regardless of party affiliation, he would continue to support Governor Ahmed Aliyu, whom he described as respectful and committed to governance, urging him to succeed for the benefit of the state.
