Sokoto ADC deputy governorship
The African Democratic Congress has named Bello Ambarura, the federal lawmaker representing Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency, as its deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Sokoto State.
Ambarura will run alongside the party’s governorship candidate and former Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Manir Muhammad Dan-Iya. The choice completes what the ADC describes as a combination of administrative experience, legislative exposure and grassroots political reach.
The announcement of the Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate was contained in a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary in Sokoto State, Lamir Aminu. According to the statement, the nomination followed consultations among party leaders and stakeholders ahead of the governorship contest.
Aminu said the party acted in accordance with Section 187(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for a governorship candidate to nominate another candidate from the same political party to serve as deputy governor.
The party maintained that Ambarura was selected after careful consideration of the qualities needed to build what it called a competent, credible and people-oriented leadership team for Sokoto State.
Ambarura brings civil service and legislative experience
The choice of Ambarura gives the ADC ticket a politician whose career has passed through the civil service, the state executive council and two levels of the legislature.
Before entering elective politics, Ambarura rose through the Sokoto State Civil Service to the position of permanent secretary. He subsequently served as the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industries.
He was elected to the Sokoto State House of Assembly in 2019 and became Majority Leader. He held the position until 2023, when he moved to the National Assembly after winning the election to represent Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The ADC believes that this combination of bureaucratic knowledge and legislative experience will strengthen the party’s campaign. By choosing the federal lawmaker as the Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate, the party is presenting a ticket made up of two politicians with experience in state administration and lawmaking.
Ambarura’s nomination is also expected to help the party consolidate its support in Sokoto East, particularly in Illela and Gwadabawa, while Dan-Iya brings his political network, previous executive experience and longstanding relationship with influential figures in Sokoto politics.
Dan-Iya leads the ADC ticket
Dan-Iya emerged as the ADC governorship candidate in May 2026. He was returned unopposed during the party’s selection process after receiving 52,831 affirmative votes from members across the state.
The exercise was supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies and other stakeholders, according to reports from the primary.
A former deputy governor under the administration of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Dan-Iya entered the contest with considerable experience in state politics. He also holds the traditional title of Walin Sokoto.
Following his emergence, Dan-Iya described the nomination as a major responsibility and pledged to pursue unity, stability and development in the state. He acknowledged the support of party leaders, elders, youths, women and political associates while calling on his supporters to remain peaceful and focused.
The selection of the Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate now gives Dan-Iya a running mate with whom the party can formally take its campaign message to voters.
Why ADC settled for Ambarura
In announcing the nomination, the party described Ambarura as a seasoned administrator and experienced public servant. It argued that his background would complement Dan-Iya’s leadership experience and strengthen the ticket’s appeal across different sections of the state.
Beyond political calculations, the choice reflects the importance parties place on regional spread, experience and electoral value when selecting running mates. A deputy governorship candidate is expected not only to support the governorship candidate but also to help balance interests within the party and broaden the geographical reach of the campaign.
The emergence of Ambarura as the Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate may therefore be read as an effort to unite the party around a ticket capable of drawing support from the state’s different political blocs.
The ADC congratulated Ambarura and urged party members, supporters and Sokoto residents to rally behind the Dan-Iya/Ambarura ticket.
However, the nomination is only the beginning of a more demanding political test. The party must now convert internal consensus into a competitive grassroots campaign capable of challenging established structures across Sokoto’s 23 local government areas.
ADC seeks stronger foothold in Sokoto
The ADC has been working to expand its presence in Sokoto ahead of the 2027 elections. In addition to producing governorship and deputy governorship candidates, the party has affirmed candidates for the state’s three senatorial districts and other legislative positions.
Former Ambassador Faruku Malami-Yabo was affirmed as the party’s candidate for Sokoto South Senatorial District, while Hassan Rabbah and Mani Maishinko-Katami emerged for the Eastern and Northern senatorial districts, respectively.
These nominations suggest that the party intends to contest beyond the governorship race and build a broader electoral structure across the state.
The decision to pick a serving House of Representatives member as the Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate could also raise the public profile of the campaign. As a sitting federal legislator, Ambarura enters the race with an established constituency structure and experience in electoral mobilisation.
Still, political experience alone will not determine the outcome. The ADC ticket will need to present clear proposals on insecurity, agriculture, education, healthcare, unemployment and economic development.
Sokoto remains one of the states facing serious security and development pressures. Communities in parts of the state have repeatedly raised concerns about rural insecurity, displacement and the economic hardship affecting farmers, traders and families.
The opposition party must therefore move beyond slogans and explain how a Dan-Iya administration would address these challenges differently.
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Constitutional basis of the nomination
The party specifically cited Section 187(1) of the Constitution in explaining the nomination. Under the constitutional arrangement, a candidate for governor is required to nominate another candidate from the same political party as an associate for the office of deputy governor.
The ADC’s reference to the Constitution signals that the party is moving from its internal selection process to the formal stages of presenting its governorship ticket.
INEC currently recognises the African Democratic Congress as one of Nigeria’s registered political parties. The electoral commission’s party information identifies the ADC and lists its recognised national leadership.
The party will also be required to comply with the Electoral Act, INEC regulations and the commission’s timetable for the submission and possible substitution of candidates.
By formally announcing the Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate, the party has provided voters with a clearer picture of the team it intends to present for the 2027 governorship election.
A ticket tied to Sokoto’s political history
Dan-Iya’s emergence brings the influence of the previous Peoples Democratic Party administration into the ADC campaign. As Tambuwal’s former deputy, he remains associated with a political network that governed Sokoto before the current All Progressives Congress administration.
Ambarura’s background adds another layer to the ticket. His career in the civil service and legislature allows the party to argue that both candidates understand the workings of government.
Yet that experience may also invite closer public scrutiny. Voters are likely to examine the records of both men, their contributions in previous offices and the practical results associated with their years in public service.
The Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate will particularly need to explain his work as a state lawmaker, Majority Leader and member of the House of Representatives.
For a serious political campaign, biography must be followed by evidence. The ticket will be judged not simply by the offices its candidates have occupied, but by what they achieved while holding those positions.
The road to the 2027 election
The announcement has formally set the stage for the Dan-Iya/Ambarura campaign. The ADC will now seek to market the ticket as an alternative to the governing APC and other parties expected to contest the Sokoto governorship election.
Its immediate task will be to manage internal interests, strengthen ward-level structures and produce a policy programme that speaks directly to the needs of the electorate.
The selection of the Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate may help stabilise the party’s internal arrangements, but the larger battle will be decided outside party meetings. It will be fought in communities where voters expect credible answers on security, food production, jobs, public services and the cost of living.
The party must also demonstrate that its candidates can unite different interests across Sokoto and run an issue-driven campaign rather than relying solely on political personalities.
For Ambarura, the nomination represents a significant step from federal legislative service into a statewide political contest. For Dan-Iya, it completes the leadership team with which he hopes to return to the Sokoto Government House, this time as governor.
The emergence of the Sokoto ADC deputy governorship candidate has clarified the party’s immediate strategy. Whether the combination can gain enough support to reshape Sokoto’s political contest will depend on its organisation, message and ability to persuade voters that it offers a credible alternative in 2027.
Sokoto ADC deputy governorship
