Former federal lawmaker, Senator Abubakar Umar Gada, has announced his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing alleged indecision and lack of commitment by former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Gada made the declaration at a meeting with his supporters in Sokoto, bringing to an end weeks of speculation over his political future ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said the decision to rejoin the PDP was borne out of the need to “reclaim and rebuild” the party in Sokoto State, which he claimed had suffered stagnation due to leadership failures.

The former senator accused Tambuwal of failing to show commitment to the ADC, six months after both leaders indicated interest in building the party in the state.

According to Gada, both he and Tambuwal were initially regarded as joint leaders of the ADC in Sokoto, but leadership, he said, must be backed by responsibility and presence.

“My humble self and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal were considered leaders to drive the party in the state,” Gada said. “But leadership requires identifying with the people, showing commitment and taking responsibility. For six months, we worked to raise the hope and tempo of the party, but he refused to sit with us to build it.”

He further alleged that Tambuwal’s political engagements sent conflicting signals, thereby weakening the ADC’s structure in the state.

“You cannot be negotiating with APC on one hand, being promoted as a vice-presidential option for Peter Obi on the other, and still refuse to register or allow your supporters to register with ADC,” he said. “Such contradictions cannot build a party.”

Gada described the situation as leaving the ADC “in limbo” in Sokoto, adding that it compelled him and his supporters to “take destiny into their hands” by returning to the PDP.

He also criticised what he termed political ingratitude, recalling Tambuwal’s rise from Speaker of the House of Representatives to a two-term governor.

Supporters of the PDP, including Alhaji Hamza Maiturari Yabo, described Gada’s return as a major boost to the party’s revival following its defeat by the APC in the 2023 elections.

Another party leader, Alhaji Hamza Gatawa, said the process of reclaiming the PDP had begun, while Hajia Mariam Kabi urged women and youths to rally behind Gada’s 2027 governorship ambition, encouraging eligible youths to register for their Permanent Voter Cards.

The ADC gained prominence in Sokoto politics in 2024 following internal crises within the PDP. Tambuwal, who served as governor between 2015 and 2023 and currently represents Sokoto South in the Senate, has yet to respond publicly to the allegations.

Gada is expected to formally complete his return to the PDP at the state level in the coming weeks as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 polls.

However, reacting to the development, the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sahabi Sayinnawal, dismissed Gada’s claim, stating that the party was unaware of his return.

“We are not aware of his coming back to PDP. Nobody received him, not at the ward, local government, state or national level. His name is not in our register,” Sayinnawal said.