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2023 Sokoto State gubernatorial election

2023 gubernatorial election in Sokoto State, Nigeria From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2023 Sokoto State gubernatorial election was held on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Sokoto State, concurrent with elections to the Sokoto State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly.[1][2] The election — which was postponed from its original 11 March date — was held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections.[3] Incumbent PDP Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term. Former Deputy Governor Ahmad Aliyu gained the office for the APC by a margin of ~6% over the PDP nominee — former Secretary to the State Government Saidu Umar.[4]

Quick Facts Registered, Nominee ...
2023 Sokoto State gubernatorial election
← 2019 18 March 2023 2027 →
Registered2,172,056
 
Nominee Ahmad Aliyu Saidu Umar
Party APC PDP
Running mate Idris Muhammad Gobir Sagir Bafarawa
Popular vote 453,661 404,632
Percentage 52.48% 46.81%
Governor before election

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
PDP

 Elected Governor

Ahmad Aliyu
APC

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Party primaries were scheduled for between 4 April and 9 June 2022 with the Peoples Democratic Party nominating Umar on 25 May while the All Progressives Congress nominated Aliyu on 26 May.[5][6]

On 19 March, INEC declared Aliyu as the victor with official totals showing him winning about 454,000 votes (~52% of the vote) to defeat Umar with about 405,000 votes (~47% of the vote).[4] Due to alleged irregularities, Umar rejected the results and filed a challenge at the electoral tribunal.[7] The legal case eventually reached the Supreme Court, which upheld the election of Aliyu in a January 2024 judgment.[8]

Electoral system

The Governor of Sokoto State is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of state local government areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.

Background

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Perspective

Sokoto State is a large northwestern state with agricultural and energy potential but facing a debilitated health sector, low education rates, and intense challenges in security as the nationwide kidnapping epidemic, bandit conflict, religious riots, and herder–farmer clashes have all heavily affected the state.

Politically, the 2019 elections were categorized as a swing back towards the PDP in the aftermath of Waziri Tambuwal's 2018 defection back to the party. Although Buhari won the state again, Sokoto was the state that swung the most towards the PDP in the presidential election; legislatively, the PDP held its one Senate seat after a court ruling and won four House of Representatives seats after the APC won all legislative seats in 2015. Statewise, Waziri Tambuwal won re-election by only about 300 votes while the APC won a narrow majority in the House of Assembly. During the term, APC dissenters worked with the PDP to form House of Assembly majority before eventually defecting and giving the PDP full control of the House.

Ahead of his term, Waziri Tambuwal's inauguration speech focused on education, healthcare, agriculture, water development, and transportation.[9] In terms of his performance, Waziri Tambuwal was commended for improving girl-child and technical education while being criticized for baselessly denying National Bureau of Statistics poverty data, rapidly returning to out-of-state campaigning days after May 2022 religious riots, and rising insecurity.[10][11][12]

Primary elections

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Perspective

The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, were to take place between 4 April and 3 June 2022 but the deadline was extended to 9 June.[2][13] An informal zoning gentlemen's agreement sets the Sokoto East Senatorial District to have the next governor as Sokoto East has not held the governorship since 2007. However, no major party has closed their nomination to non-Easterners as of yet.[14]

All Progressives Congress

The year prior to the APC primaries was beset by party infighting between three factions each supported by House of Representatives member Abdullahi Balarabe Salame, Minister Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi and former Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, or former Senator and potential gubernatorial candidate Abubakar Umar Gada which culminated in three parallel party congresses in October 2021.[15] The party crisis and legal battle over the congresses' legitimacy led no Sokoto APC chairman to be recognized in February 2022 alongside other state APC chairmen and for Sokoto delegates to be barred from the March APC National Convention.[16][17][18] It was not until seven months after the congresses that a party executive was inaugurated after a court ruled in favor of the Maigari Dingyadi-Magatakarda Wamakko faction in late March and the leadership was sworn in on 29 March.[19][20] The loss led House of Assembly Speaker Aminu Manya Achida (who had sided with Umar Gada's faction) to defect to the PDP; the protracted party crisis along with more potential defections have the potential to hurt the APC in the general election.[21]

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party's schedule for gubernatorial primaries, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦10 million and nomination form price at ₦40 million with a 50% nomination form discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May.[22] After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were screened by a party committee on 14 and 15 May while 16 May was the date for the screening appeal process.[23] Ward congresses and LGA congresses were set for between 7 and 9 May to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 26 May, in concurrence with other APC gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made the next day.[24][25][26][27]

In the days before the primary, disputes emerged over the delegate list as now-candidate Balarabe Salame accused three local government party organizations of selecting delegates without a congress.[28] On primary day, Balarabe Salame and former Senator Abubakar Umar Gada withdrew in protest of the process and three other candidates staged a walkout as several delegates claimed that unknown people were impersonating other delegates.[29] Voting continued into the morning of 27 May and ended in the nomination of Ahmad Aliyu—a former Deputy Governor and the party's 2019 nominee—by a wide margin.[6] Aliyu called for party unity in his acceptance speech and thanked party national chairman Abdullahi Adamu.[30] However, about a month after the primary, the trio of Balarabe Salame, Yusuf Sulaiman, and Abubakar Abdullahi Gumbi defected to the PDP.[31] A few weeks later, former commissioner Idris Muhammad Gobir was announced as Aliyu's running mate.[32]

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

  • Abubakar Abdullahi Gumbi: retired civil servant (defected after the primary to the PDP)[6]
  • Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir: Senator for Sokoto East (2011–present)[6]
  • Faruk Malami Yabo: Ambassador to Jordan (2021–present), 2019 APC gubernatorial candidate and deputy gubernatorial nominee, former Commissioner of Local Government and Community Development (2012–2015), and former Commissioner of Finance (2007–2012)[6]
  • Yusuf Sulaiman: former Minister of Transport (2011) and former Minister of Sports (2011) (defected after the primary to the PDP)[33][6]

Withdrew

Declined

Results

Candidates' vote share

  Ahmad Aliyu (93.10%)
  Other candidates (6.90%)
More information Party, Candidate ...
APC primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
APC Ahmad Aliyu 1,080 93.10%
APC Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir 36 3.10%
APC Faruk Malami Yabo 27 2.33%
APC Yusuf Sulaiman 16 1.38%
APC Abubakar Abdullahi Gumbi 1 0.09%
APC Abdullahi Balarabe Salame (withdrawn) 0 0.00%
APC Abubakar Umar Gada (withdrawn) 0 0.00%
Total votes 1,160 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 23 N/A
Turnout 1,182 Unknown
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People's Democratic Party

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its gubernatorial primaries' schedule, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold until 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 28 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary.[37] Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 25 May, in concurrence with all other PDP gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made in the following days.[38][39]

On the primary date, every candidates except former Secretary to the State Government Saidu Umar withdrew from the race to support Umar's emergence as the consensus nominee.[40] The nomination of Umar via consensus was confirmed later that day, with Waziri Tambuwal claiming that it was a positive step for party unity along with announcing that withdrawn candidates like Manir Dan Iya and Sagir Bafarawa would receive other nominations in exchange for their withdrawals.[5] However, former candidate Muktar Shagari left the PDP in protest of the Umar's nomination.[41] By July, Dan Iya had obtained the Sokoto North PDP senatorial nomination while Umar had picked Bafarawa as his running mate.

Nominated

  • Saidu Umar: former Secretary to the State Government (2019–2022) and former Commissioner of Finance (2015–2019)[34][5]
    • Running mate—Sagir Bafarawa: former Commissioner of Environment (2019–2022) and son of former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa

Withdrew

Declined

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
PDP primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
PDP Saidu Umar 695 100.00%
Total votes 695 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes 60 N/A
Turnout 755 Unknown
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Minor parties

Campaign

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Perspective

Immediately after the primaries, pundits focused on the fallout from the elections and alleged imposition of nominees.[47] As the general election campaign began in mid-2022, observers noted the potential impact of divisions within the state and national PDP on Umar's campaign due to significant disputes between Tambuwal and other major PDP figures.[48] However, pundits also said most unsuccessful PDP gubernatorial aspirants had been successfully placated while the APC primary led to lingering resentment against former Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko—who was accused of imposing Aliyu as nominee.[49] On the other hand, analysis in September noted that there had been notable defections from both major parties along with a report that Deputy Governor and former PDP gubernatorial candidate Manir Dan Iya could join the APC.[50] After the start of the official campaign period in October, APC and PDP began public attack statements; it began with the APC accusing the PDP of threatening businessmen, traditional leaders, and religious Leaders to force them to support PDP candidates. In response, the PDP denied the accusations while stating that Wamakko had disrespected traditional leaders during his term as governor.[51]

In late November, analysis from The Nation mentioned the competitiveness of the race while reiterating the potential damage from divides within each major party. Observers also noted similarities between the APC and PDP tickets in terms of regional balance and godfather support.[52][53] Similarly, reporting from the Premium Times from the next month focused on Wamakko's influence on the state APC in opposition to his longtime rival Attahiru Bafarawa's influence on the state PDP.[54] Meanwhile, an election overview from the Daily Trust contended that Umar could be hurt by Tambuwal's position in the campaign of PDP presidential nominee Atiku Abubakar. The January piece also cast doubts on the viability of other candidates like Aminu Ahmad Umar (LP) or Umaru Dahiru (NNPP).[55] Later that month, ThisDay reporting confirmed that the APC had not formally commenced its campaign or formed a campaign council with the election only a month away.[56] However, both major candidates were campaigning extensively; tension rose entering February due to a rise on political violence, including attacks on the convoys of both major candidates.[57]

Later in February, attention largely switched to the nearing presidential election on 25 February. In the election, Sokoto State narrowly voted for Atiku Abubakar (PDP); Abubakar won the state with 49.2% of the vote, beating Bola Tinubu's 48.6%. Aside from the presidential result, the legislative elections were also very close and mainly inconcisive. These results led analysts to focus on the state's competitiveness.[58][59]

Projections

More information Source, Projection ...
Source Projection As of
Africa Elects[a][60] Lean Umar 17 March 2023
Enough is Enough-
SBM Intelligence[b][61]		 Umar 2 March 2023
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Conduct

Electoral timetable

On 26 February 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission released the timetable, setting out key dates and deadlines for the election.[62] Months later on 27 May 2022, INEC made a slight revision to the timetable, allowing parties extra time to conduct primaries.[63]

  • 28 February 2022 – Publication of Notice of Election
  • 4 April 2022 – First day for the conduct of party primaries
  • 9 June 2022[c] – Final day for the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them
  • 1 July 2022 – First day for submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal
  • 15 July 2022 – Final day for submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal
  • 12 October 2022 – Commencement of the official campaign period
  • 16 March 2023[d] – Final day of the official campaign period

General election

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Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
2023 Sokoto State gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
AA Ahmad Jao Ahmad
ADP Ibrahim Muhammad Liman
APP Sidi Ahmed Abba
AAC Ahmad Babajo Ibrahim
ADC Bello Isiyaku
APM Haruna Abubakar
APC Ahmad Aliyu
APGA Ibrahim Muhammed Mansur Gada
BP Ibrahim Goronyo
LP Aminu Ahmad Umar
New Nigeria Peoples Party Umaru Dahiru
NRM Sulaiman Dandauda Aliyu
PDP Saidu Umar
PRP Muhammad Saidu Gumburawa
SDP Abubakar Umar Gada
YPP Usama Sani Daniya
ZLP Habibu Mohammed
Total votes 100.00%
Invalid or blank votes N/A
Turnout
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By senatorial district

The results of the election by senatorial district.

More information Senatorial District, Ahmad Aliyu APC ...
Senatorial District Ahmad Aliyu
APC		 Saidu Umar
PDP		 Others Total Valid Votes
Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Votes Percentage
Sokoto East Senatorial District[e] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Sokoto North Senatorial District[f] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Sokoto South Senatorial District[g] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Totals TBD % TBD % TBD % TBD
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By federal constituency

The results of the election by federal constituency.

More information Federal Constituency, Ahmad Aliyu APC ...
Federal Constituency Ahmad Aliyu
APC		 Saidu Umar
PDP		 Others Total Valid Votes
Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Votes Percentage
Binji/Silame Federal Constituency[h] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Dange-Shuni/Bodinga/Tureta Federal Constituency[i] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Goronyo/Gada Federal Constituency[j] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency[k] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Isa/Sabon Birni Federal Constituency[l] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency[m] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency[n] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Sokoto North/Sokoto South Federal Constituency[o] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Tangaza/Gudu Federal Constituency[p] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency[q] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency[r] TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD
Totals TBD % TBD % TBD % TBD
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By local government area

The results of the election by local government area.

More information LGA, Ahmad Aliyu APC ...
LGA Ahmad Aliyu
APC		 Saidu Umar
PDP		 Others Total Valid Votes Turnout Percentage
Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Votes Percentage
Binji TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Bodinga TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Dange Shuni TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Gada TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Goronyo TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Gudu TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Gwadabawa TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Illela TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Isa TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Kebbe TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Kware TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Rabah TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Sabon Birni TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Shagari TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Silame TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Sokoto North TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Sokoto South TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Tambuwal TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Tangaza TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Tureta TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Wamako TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Wurno TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Yabo TBD  % TBD  % TBD  % TBD  %
Totals TBD % TBD % TBD % TBD %
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See also

Notes

  1. AfricaElects projections predict the likelihood of a candidate winning a state by categorizing a state as "Safe" for exceedingly likely, "Likely" for somewhat likely, and "Lean" for least likely. If no clear determination could be made, states are categorized as "tossups".
  2. EiE-SBM projections predict which candidates will win states.
  3. The original deadline was 3 June; however, INEC pushed it back to 9 June at the behest of parties.[64]
  4. The original deadline was 9 March; however, INEC pushed it back to 16 March.[65]
  5. Comprising the local government areas of Gada, Goronyo, Gwadabawa, Illela, Isa, Rabah, Sabon Birni, and Wurno.
  6. Comprising the local government areas of Binji, Gudu, Kware, Silame, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Tangaza, and Wamako.
  7. Comprising the local government areas of Bodinga, Dange Shuni, Kebbe, Shagari, Tambuwal, Tureta, and Yabo.
  8. Comprising the local government areas of Binji and Silame.
  9. Comprising the local government areas of Bodinga, Dange Shuni, and Tureta.
  10. Comprising the local government areas of Gada and Goronyo.
  11. Comprising the local government areas of Gwadabawa and Illela.
  12. Comprising the local government areas of Isa and Sabon Birni.
  13. Comprising the local government areas of Kebbe and Tambuwal.
  14. Comprising the local government areas of Kware and Wamako.
  15. Comprising the local government areas of Sokoto North and Sokoto South.
  16. Comprising the local government areas of Gudu and Tangaza.
  17. Comprising the local government areas of Rabah and Wurno.
  18. Comprising the local government areas of Shagari and Yabo.

References

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