Manir Dan'iya, who served as deputy governor of Sokoto State, has won the African Democratic Congress nomination to run for governor in 2027.
Dan'iya's emergence as the ADC's flagbearer comes as political parties across Nigeria begin selecting candidates ahead of the next election cycle. The former deputy governor's entry into the race signals fresh competition in a state where the ruling All Progressives Congress has dominated recent elections.
The ADC, a relatively smaller party on the national stage, has been working to increase its visibility and competitiveness in state-level races. Dan'iya's political experience as number two to a previous governor gives him an established profile in Sokoto politics, though he will face the challenge of building a campaign structure across a state where bigger parties have deeper organisational roots.
Sokoto has long been a stronghold of major parties, and the 2027 governorship election is expected to be competitive. Dan'iya will need to leverage his time in government and build a coalition of supporters to mount a credible challenge against candidates from the APC and other well-established opposition parties. The ADC has not yet announced detailed campaign plans or policy platforms for the election.
More candidates from different parties are expected to emerge in coming weeks as the 2027 election cycle gathers momentum across Nigeria's 36 states.
