Former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, speaks with journalists in Sokoto shortly after announcing his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the African Democratic Congress. In this interview, he explains the reasons behind the move, his views on Nigeria’s political future, the Electoral Act, and allegations of political victimisation. ANIMASAHUN SALMAN brings the excerpts…
Nigerians woke up to the news of your defection to the African Democratic Congress. For many Nigerians, the ADC is not as vibrant as the PDP used to be. Why did you choose ADC among other options?
First and foremost, consultations, reviews and studies of Nigeria’s political environment that led to this decision did not start yesterday. They began over two years ago when some of us started projecting into the future and examining the trajectory of Nigeria’s political system. At that time, we observed certain developments which suggested that the country might gradually drift towards a one-party state if deliberate steps were not taken by democratic forces to strengthen alternative political platforms. Because of this concern, we commissioned a number of experts, including seasoned politicians, political analysts and professors from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria, to study the country’s evolving political environment and advise us on the most viable direction to take. Their assignment was to carefully analyse the major political parties in Nigeria — including the PDP, which many of us belonged to; the Labour Party, which made significant electoral gains in the 2023 general elections; and other smaller political parties that have structures across the country. After months of study and consultations, the conclusion presented to us was quite revealing. They noted that the PDP, unfortunately, was facing deep-rooted internal challenges which might threaten its long-term survival if not properly addressed. They also observed that the Labour Party, despite its impressive showing in the last election, might struggle to sustain its current momentum due to organisational and structural limitations.
Based on these findings, many of us, who had previously been leaders in the PDP, the APC and even the Labour Party, began to explore other platforms that could provide Nigerians with a credible political alternative. After examining several options, we collectively agreed that the African Democratic Congress offered a platform that could be rebuilt, strengthened and repositioned as a truly national party capable of representing the aspirations of Nigerians who desire genuine democratic governance. That is essentially why we chose the ADC.
