From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has affirmed former Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general election in Sokoto State.
Dan’iya emerged as the party’s flag bearer following a primary election conducted by delegates from the 244 wards across the state’s 23 local government areas.
The Chief Returning Officer for the primary election, Prof. Aminu Abubakar Illela, announced that Dan’iya secured 52,831 votes statewide.
“Consequently, I hereby declare you as the sole candidate of the ADC in the 2027 general elections,” he declared.
In his acceptance speech, Dan’iya said he accepted the nomination in order to serve the people of Sokoto State and improve their welfare.
“If Allah wills, we will defeat the APC from top to bottom because the people have seen firsthand the kind of governance being given to them,” he said.
He pledged to be diligent and expressed confidence that the ADC would unseat the APC at all levels in the state.
Dan’iya also thanked the ADC leader in the state and immediate past governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, alongside other party leaders and members for the confidence reposed in him, while calling for unity ahead of the elections.
Speaking at the event, Tambuwal commended party leaders and members for conducting the primaries peacefully and without violence.
He also urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amopitan, to resist external influence and uphold the rule of law in all electoral processes.
“It is shameful for Amopitan to misinterpret a court judgment despite being a Professor of Law,” Tambuwal stated.
He alleged that some undemocratic elements were pressuring INEC to rush party primaries in order to frustrate opposition parties.
Tambuwal noted that party primaries are constitutionally scheduled to hold between August and September.
“By God’s grace, we have conducted our State House of Assembly, National Assembly, and governorship primaries peacefully across the country,” he added.
The former governor further urged the INEC chairman not to allow himself to be used by those seeking to weaken opposition parties and impose President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
According to him, Nigerians expect more from INEC considering Amopitan’s status as a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Tambuwal also disclosed that the ADC would field many young candidates in the forthcoming elections and expressed optimism about recording major victories across the country.
He called on Nigerians to remain patient and resilient while advocating for free, fair, and credible elections nationwide.