Israel Oluyemi
Former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal (ADC–Sokoto South), has broken his silence on leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto.
He said the ongoing crisis within the PDP forced him to make the move.
Tambuwal accused the party leadership of deliberately weakening opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He explained that he reached his decision after more than two years of consultations and careful review of Nigeria’s political landscape.
A panel of political experts, academics, and serving politicians, including members from the PDP, Labour Party, and APC, studied the country’s evolving political situation.
“From the analysis, it appeared that the PDP and Labour Party may not survive in their current forms and could fail to present strong presidential candidates in 2027,” Tambuwal said.
He claimed the plan aimed to reduce major opposition parties to the level of smaller parties that negotiate with the ruling government during elections.
Tambuwal alleged that part of the strategy included preventing Labour Party candidate Peter Obi from remaining in the party to contest the presidency.
He said these developments prompted him and like-minded politicians to join the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) to build a stronger opposition platform.
“We are not new to this political game.
We acted early to prevent a calculated attempt to undermine democracy,” he said.
Tambuwal described ADC as a people-focused platform, not a personal ambition project.
“Many Nigerians feel the burden of insecurity, poverty, corruption, and abuse of public trust.
ADC aims to give them a strong voice in shaping the country’s future,” he added.
He emphasised that elections ultimately depend on voters’ conviction, noting that sitting presidents and governors have lost when citizens rejected their leadership.
Tambuwal concluded that his defection serves the interests of his constituents and Nigeria, not his personal political ambitions.