Senator Ahmed Muhammad Maccido has withdrawn his candidacy for the Sokoto North Senatorial District election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding a new twist to the rapidly shifting political landscape in Sokoto State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Maccido conveyed his decision in a letter made available to ASHENEWS, dated September 30, 2026, and addressed to the PDP State Chairman in Sokoto.
Titled “Notice of Voluntary Withdrawal of Senatorial Candidature”, Maccido’s letter said the decision was made voluntarily and of his own free will.
He requested the party to take note of his withdrawal and process the necessary administrative and electoral documentation. The letter was acknowledged by the party’s secretary on October 1, 2026.
The development comes against the backdrop of significant realignments among opposition politicians in Sokoto, with several prominent figures changing platforms or stepping aside from senatorial contests.
Maccido’s withdrawal is particularly significant because he had been listed as the PDP candidate for Sokoto North in the 2027 senatorial contest, where he was expected to challenge the incumbent, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of the All Progressives Congress (APC). A September listing of senatorial candidates placed Wamakko as APC candidate and Maccido as PDP candidate for the district.
Wamakko, a former governor of Sokoto State and APC leader in the state, secured the party’s senatorial ticket for Sokoto North in May through an affirmation process, positioning him for another term in the Senate.
The PDP development also comes amid broader opposition realignment in Sokoto. Former Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who defected from the PDP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), earlier withdrew from the Sokoto South senatorial race and backed former commissioner Faruk Yabo for the ADC ticket.
Another major PDP-linked figure, Sa’idu Ubandoma, subsequently defected to the APC after losing the ADC governorship ticket to Tambuwal’s former deputy, Manir Dan’Iya.
Maccido’s letter, however, does not state whether he intends to join another political party, support another candidate or withdraw completely from the 2027 electoral contest.
