Governor Umar Namadi has signalled a renewed political showdown in Jigawa State, declaring that federal and state legislators from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should begin counting their days ahead of the 2027 general election.
Addressing a packed audience during a citizens’ engagement programme in Dutse, the state capital, on Sunday, the governor said the “people-driven” successes of his administration had deepened the roots of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the state’s Southwest Senatorial District.
“Just as Buji and Birnin Kudu were confirmed to us (we are winning), the senator representing this zone under the PDP should start counting his days in the red chamber,” Mr Namadi said. “Likewise, the House of Representatives members representing Dutse, Kiyawa, Birnin Kudu, and Buji should also start counting their days in the green chamber.”
Currently, the PDP holds the Senate seat for Jigawa Southwest through Senator Mustapha Khabib. The party also controls two House of Representatives seats Birnin Kudu/Buji and Dutse/Kiyawa as well as a single seat in the Jigawa State House of Assembly.
Governor Namadi’s remarks came during the interactive programme, designed as a platform for state officials to highlight achievements, gauge public sentiment, and consolidate citizen participation in governance.
The Dutse event follows similar stops in Buji and Birnin Kudu local government areas, where the APC had recently recorded what the governor described as “overwhelming turnout and support”.
“Today’s overwhelming turnout and support in Dutse confirm that APC is now deeply rooted in this emirate (Senatorial District),” the governor added.
“We must thank God because this government’s initiative has been well received. What we have to say to the Dutse Local Government: we are deeply, sincerely grateful for the warm reception, the enthusiastic turnout, and the praise for government initiatives.”
In addition to his administration’s performance, the governor credited the APC’s rising political dominance to ongoing federal projects in the state, which he said reflected President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive development.
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He cited the completion of the Greater Dutse Water Project, ongoing work on the Maradi-Dutse railway corridor, and the re-award and continuation of the Kano–Maiduguri highway as major milestones.
“The President has asked me to assure you that these projects will be delivered without delay and that national and community development efforts will continue in full force across Jigawa State,” Mr Namadi said.
The political landscape in Jigawa State has experienced significant shifts over the years, particularly between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In the 2015 gubernatorial election, the APC made a substantial impact by winning the governorship seat with Mohammed Badaru Abubakar securing 648,045 votes against the PDP’s Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, who garnered 479,447 votes . This victory marked a pivotal change in the state’s political dynamics.
Since assuming power in 2015, the APC-led administration has initiated various developmental projects aimed at enhancing infrastructure and improving the quality of life for residents. Notably, the administration has constructed 47 new road projects and completed 42 inherited ones across the state . These efforts have been part of a broader strategy to solidify the party’s presence and influence in both rural and urban areas.
In the subsequent 2019 gubernatorial election, the APC maintained its dominance with Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar winning re-election by securing 810,933 votes, while the PDP’s Aminu Ibrahim Ringim received 288,356 votes . This continued support underscores the party’s growing acceptance among the electorate. The APC’s emphasis on developmental projects and community outreach has been central to its strategy in expanding its influ
