Can Sokoto PDP weather the storm?
The growing division in Sokoto PDP appears to be its chances of reclaiming the position it lost to the rival APC. Our correspondent reveals why.
Since the defection of Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) locally known as “old PDP” have engaged in serious realignments aimed at repositioning themselves with the ultimate goal of retaking all the positions they lost.
These include the governorship seat, two senatorial seats(SokotoSouth and Sokoto-East), all seats of the federal constituencies except those of Kebbe/Tambuwal and Sokoto-South/North, the 24 out of the 27 seats of the state House of Assembly and the 23 local government councils.
But political observers in the state noted that this could be a Herculean task considering the facts on ground as it relates to the in-house fight involving PDP stalwarts which are believed to have torn the party into camps.
The coming of Bafarawa
When the former governor of the state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa joined PDP in protest over what he had called unfair treatment to some of the founding members of APC because the then leaders of the party had handed its structures to sitting governors in the party, many analysts in the state believe that his presence in the PDP will give it the needed lifeline to wrest power from Wamakko.
It was also believed that the former governor would serve as binding force for members of the party, more so as Bafarawa kept reassuring that his defection to PDP was not for political gain.
But pundits have also noted that if Bafarawa shows interest in any of the aspirants, it might create further division with the possibility of other aspirants ganging up against such which they said would further disintegrate the party.
What they fear may have however started manifesting as the party seems to be divided into pro-Bafarawa and anti-Bafarawa groups.
A close associate of one of the aspirants, Alhaji Yusuf M.D. Bakura said what brought Bafarawa into the party was vengeance against Governor Wamakko and the Sultan.
“He is out to avenge that humiliation of 2007 and he is looking out for any of the aspirants who can help him actualize this dream. That is why he cannot support Yusuf Sulaiman because he knows he cannot do this dirty job for him.
“Yusuf cannot humiliate the Sultan because he is also from that house and he cannot humiliate Wamakko because he doesn’t believe this is the right thing to do. His only concern is how to lead the state to greatness by making its people more productive, by initiating programmes that would better their lots among others,” he said
Member representing SokotoSouth/North federal constituency, Umar Bature however, has a different view about Bafarawa. According to him, Bafarawa has provided good leadership and organization, saying those casting aspersions on the former governor are not sincere.
“Whoever is serious and sincere about Bafarawa should be able to admit that Bafarawa is providing good leadership and proper organisation but if you don’t trust him that is another issue,” he said.
The zoning issue
The Nigerian Ambassador to Morocco, Senator Abdallah Wali, who is also one of the PDP governorship aspirants, said he and other caucus members of the party had agreed that the governorship ticket of the party should be zoned to Sokoto- South senatorial district for the sake of fairness and equity.
Wali maintained that SokotoEast had its own turn through Bafarawa who governed for eight years and Governor Wamakko is from Sokoto-Central and now in his 7th year. He said it is only the Sokoto-South that is yet to rule the state and that this was why they have agreed that the PDP governorship ticket should be zoned to the southern part of the state to enable them produce the next governor.
In a swift reaction, former minister of transport, Alhaji Yusuf Sulaiman dismissed his claim as a distortion of facts, saying the governorship ticket of the party has been zoned to the area since 1999.
“Mode Yabo was elected the PDP governorship candidate in 1999 but defeated at the poll by Bafarawa. In 2003, it was the same Abdallah Wali who clinched the ticket but failed to win the election as he was defeated by the same Bafarawa. Then came Mukhtari Shagari who won the 2007 primary election but because of his unpopularity the then president asked him to step down for the incumbent Governor Wamakko who was a drafted from the then All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) . All these contestants that I mentioned were drawn from the same Sokoto South.
“I don’t think the current PDP bigwigs from the zone can compete and win a free and fair election because they were tested in the past and found not worthy for governorship election,” the minister who spoke through his aide, Yusuf M.D Bakura said.
Also reacting to Wali’s claim Rep. Bature said he was not aware of such arrangement, describing it as undemocratic.
PDP congresses
The emergence of former Governor Bafarawa’s godsons as party leaders from the local government areas to the state level has further polarized the party as some members of the party have filed a suit before a Sokoto High Court, challenging the conduct of the congresses.
The suit which was instituted by Alhaji Isah Achida, Alhaji Sahabi Tungar Kwangi, Alhaji Wadata Guiwa and Alhaji Aminu Hurumi against PDP, chairman of the caretaker committee of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Shantali and eight others said the defendants lack the powers to permit or allow any member of the party to contest for party executive committee positions at the local government and state level on the platform of the party.
While citing Articles 49 (4) and Article 50 (13) of the party’s Constitution to back their position, they however, asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from conducting any congresses for election of party officers or party candidates at both state local government levels.
At the state congress, former minister of transport, Sulaiman, Senator Ahmed Muhammed Maccido, Alhaji Isa Achida, Alhaji Sahabi Tungar Kwangi, Alhaji Wadata Guiwa and Alhaji Aminu Hurumi were conspicuously absent.
Candidates for the state chairmanship of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Tambuwal, Ibrahim Magaji Gusau and Abubakar Romo also boycotted the congress, confirming the alleged in-house fight involving stalwarts of the party.
Surprisingly, an aide to the former governor who craved anonymity also said the leaders emerged through selection not election, alleging that there was a master list already in circulation which guided delegates on whom to vote for.
PDP strength vis-à-vis APC
It appears for now that the PDP has certainly not put its act together in confronting the APC which has Wamakko and other political structures.
So far APC is in control of the vast majority of political structures in the state from governor to .councilors and in control of the local media which has continued to highlight the achievements of the governor. They also have a cordial relationship with traditional institution which has tremendous influence on their communities. They are also in control of traders and the business community because of non- involvement of government in commercial activities in addition to interestfree loans to traders and trade groups. The government also established business structures like Kara market as well as fish and vegetable market.
The non-indigenes in the state are also in support of APC government because of the abolishment of discriminatory school fees in public schools. The non-indigenes who are mostly traders and engage in commercial ventures also benefit from government’s policy of not having hand in businesses and have equally benefited from the N2 billion interest free loan. Civil servants in the state play a very important role because their support greatly affects who becomes governor of the state. Wamakko had succeeded in winning their confidence through restoration of the three step salary structure in addition to car loans and refurbishing loans to civil servants.
But for the PDP they are yet to settle let alone set articulated policies but relies on structures of its bigwigs. The PDP also has supporters in the tribe of those that have grievances with the government.