Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State and Senator representing Sokoto South Senatorial District, would certainly have preferred to exit the 2027 political scene,which for the first time he won’t be contesting with a big bang rather than a whimper. However, faced with the formidable political machinery of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Tambuwal appears to have chosen strategic withdrawal over the humiliation of a crushing defeat. His decision to step aside was not an act of sacrifice for democracy; rather, it was a calculated attempt to preserve his carefully cultivated myth of never having lost an election. But the prospect of defeat had become too obvious for him to ignore.
Although Tambuwal claimed he withdrew in support of Faruk Yabo, a former commissioner in Sokoto State, the move appears more like a face-saving strategy designed to shield his political reputation from a potentially bruising defeat. Had he truly resolved not to return to the Senate under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he would have publicly made that decision much earlier and with greater clarity and conviction. Instead, he delayed his withdrawal to watch how the pendulum swung, until he had to reluctantly acknowledge his political vulnerability.
The once-powerful Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been weakened by internal divisions and the disruptive politics of Nyesom Wike. The party no longer offered Tambuwal the formidable platform it once did. Likewise, the ADC has failed to generate the momentum required to pose any serious challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Against this backdrop, Tambuwal’s withdrawal appears less about principle and more about preserving his political image. He must have been scared of what Wike would say again.
Before examining Tambuwal’s political record, it is important to scrutinize the long-standing myth of his electoral invincibility. While the former governor has undoubtedly won every election throughout his political career, the fact is that many of those victories were made possible by the formidable political structure built by Senator Aliyu Wamakko. For years, Tambuwal tremendously benefited from Wamakko’s goodwill, political network, and grassroots machinery, which insulated him from the kind of serious electoral threats that has made him chicken out from contesting.
Aminu Tambuwal’s 2019 governorship re-election exposed the fragility of his independent political strength. In what became the first real test of his popularity outside the protective cover of the Wamakko political structure, he barely survived, winning by a razor-thin margin of just 432 votes. For a sitting governor and former presidential aspirant, that result was a stark reminder to him of the limits of his political base. Rivals, particularly Nyesom Wike, openly mocked the outcome as evidence that Tambuwal lacked genuine grassroots support.And he wasn’t far from the truth.
That narrow margin punctured Tambuwal’s aura of invincibility that had long surrounded him. It exposed the limits of his political strength once separated from the structure that had sustained him for years. It is also worth noting that although the Supreme Court upheld his victory in a split 4–3 judgment, the Supreme Court judgement was based on technicalities related to none compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act and not on substantive justice.
Tambuwal’s political career also reflects the tendency in Nigeria for longevity in office to be equated or mistaken for performance. Over the course of the two decades, he occupied some of the most powerful offices in the country: member of the House of Representatives, Speaker of the House, two-term governor of Sokoto State, and later senator. Yet beyond the titles, serious questions remain about his legacy.
What landmark policies, transformative projects, or enduring institutional reforms can genuinely be credited to Aminu Tambuwal? More importantly, can such claims withstand objective public scrutiny?
A closer examination of Tambuwal’s legislative years between 2003 and 2015 reveals a remarkably underwhelming record. Despite occupying influential positions such as Minority Leader, Deputy Chief Whip, and eventually Speaker of the House of Representatives, his personal legislative contributions were unfortunately minimal.
While lawmakers such as Ali Ahmad sponsored 36 private member bills and Uzoma Nkem Abonta sponsored 32, Aminu Tambuwal was listed among the 191 lawmakers in the Seventh House who did not sponsor a single bill. This was contained in the report titled “Status of Bills, Petitions and Other Legislative Measures,” compiled by the Rules and Business Committee under his leadership as Speaker. Ironically, this occurred during a period when Tambuwal as Speaker repeatedly emphasized the need for reforms in anti-corruption, power supply, and constitutional restructuring.
Under Tambuwal, the House generated more political drama—more “Fuji House of Commotion”—than any substantial or transformative legislation. From hindsight, much of his activism and insistence on asserting the House’s independence from the Presidency appeared geared toward building a national political profile and laying the groundwork for future presidential ambitions. In the process, many Nigerians searching for a new political messiah bought into his self serving agenda. Under him the House ultimately failed to translate its grandstanding into good governance.
Tambuwal became Governor of Sokoto State in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), once again propelled largely by the formidable political machinery of Senator Aliyu Wamakko. Wamakko and his political allies erroneously believed that Aminu,Tambuwal’s national exposure and experience as Speaker would translate into effective governance and accelerated development for Sokoto State. In retrospect, many within the Wamakko political family came to the conclusion that their confidence was misplaced. Rather than treating the governorship as a mandate to govern Sokoto State, Tambuwal increasingly treated the position as a stepping stone toward the presidency.
Given his national profile and extensive legislative experience, expectations were understandably high. Many anticipated a tenure defined by fiscal discipline, administrative competence, and transformative governance. Instead, his administration became characterized by abandoned projects, lack of development, and a leadership focus increasingly directed toward his personal political ambition.
By the end of his tenure, Sokoto State was certainly worse off than when he assumed office. Under his watch, several critical infrastructure projects inherited from the previous administration—including major road construction works, housing schemes, and water supply projects—were abandoned and allowed to stagnate for years. Even the projects that he managed to initiate suffered a similar fate,after substantial public resources had been committed to them. Had Tambuwal built upon the developmental foundation laid by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Sokoto State would have been in a much stronger position,especially with the ambitious development drive being aggressively pursued by Governor Aliyu.
Aminu Tambuwal failed because of his fixation with the presidency. His presidential ambitions consumed not only much of his political energy but also diverted attention from the core business of governance. He pursued the presidency in both 2019 and 2023 elections before eventually stepping down for Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 PDP primaries. In the process, he also politically parted ways with Senator Aliyu Wamakko, whose guidance and political structure had been instrumental to his rise and who would have helped him succeed had that relationship been preserved. It is also widely believed that substantial resources of the state were expended in support of his national political aspirations rather than being directed toward projects and programmes capable of improving the lives of the people who elected him to serve.
Governance demands continuity. Every administration inherits both assets and responsibilities, including ongoing projects that exist for the benefit of the people. Tambuwal failed this test largely because of political considerations arising from his fallout with his predecessor.
This perception earned him the unflattering nickname “Mr. Abandon” among his political opponents.
While Tambuwal often points to a number of projects as evidence of his administration’s achievements, the Sokoto State chapter of the APC maintains that many of those projects were neither conceived nor executed by his government. According to the party, several of the flagship projects he frequently cited as accomplishments were initiated, funded, and completed by the administration of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, with Tambuwal largely presiding over their commissioning. The party further asserted that numerous projects begun under his tenure were eventually left unfinished. Among the examples frequently cited is the Juma’at Mosque in his hometown, a project that Tambuwal abandoned despite its significance and which was only recently completed through the intervention of Senator Wamakko. To the APC, this underscores what it describes as a recurring gap between Tambuwal’s claims of achievement and the actual record of project execution and completion.
The issue of unpaid pensions and gratuities was also a major point of contention. During the 2023 campaigns and subsequent Senate debates, Senator Tambuwal claimed that his administration had cleared outstanding pension liabilities. Governor Ahmed Aliyu publicly disputed that claim and presented records indicating the existence of a substantial backlog. To date, Tambuwal has not publicly refuted the governor’s assertion that he left behind pension liabilities exceeding ₦14 billion, nor the claim that many pensioners died while awaiting their entitlements.
To support the governor’s position, the APC cited the findings of a verification committee chaired by Alhaji Umar Ahmad Balarabe, who also served as Accountant General under the Tambuwal administration. The committee confirmed outstanding pension and gratuity liabilities exceeding ₦14 billion, highlighting the scale of the burden inherited by the present government. Since assuming office, Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s administration has made steady progress in clearing the backlog and is expected to complete the payments within the next few months. At the same time, the government has introduced monthly provisions for future retirees, ensuring that such liabilities do not accumulate again.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Sokoto State Chapter assessment of Tambuwal’s tenure were equally scathing. They criticized Tambuwal’s administration over delayed salaries, unpaid pensions, and unremitted deductions. They also wrote him off in terms of development. Not surprising Labour disputes and industrial actions were recurring features of his eight years in office.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu has since addressed many of these concerns. His administration has resumed and completed several projects abandoned under Tambuwal’s tenure, including roads, housing estates, health facilities, and water supply schemes. His efforts have restored public confidence in government’s ability to deliver essential services.
Tambuwal’s refusal to formally hand over to Governor Ahmed Aliyu at the end of his tenure is the height of pettiness that fell short of the democratic traditions expected of a departing governor. Rather than demonstrating statesmanship and respect for the orderly transfer of power, the decision raised questions about his commitment to democratic norms. His conduct left many disappointed by what should have been a routine and symbolic affirmation of constitutional governance.
His administration has further been dogged by allegations of financial mismanagement. Investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) led to his arrest. Nigerians continue to await the outcome of the agency’s investigations. Public attention is also focused on the White Paper expected from the Justice Muazu Abdulkadir Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which examined activities carried out during his eight years in office.
As expected, Tambuwal has sought to portray his investigation as politically motivated. Nevertheless, the outcome of these investigations and inquiries would no doubt significantly shape public perceptions of his legacy.
The commission established by the Sokoto State Government was tasked with investigating allegations of financial mismanagement, abandoned projects, and misuse of public funds during Tambuwal’s administration. For many residents and political observers, the exercise represents an effort by the Governor Aliyu administration to hold him accountable.
Did Tambuwal deploy a significant portion of Sokoto State’s resources toward financing his presidential ambitions rather than addressing pressing developmental needs within the state? Were the abandoned projects and allegations of fiscal recklessness connected to his pursuit of national office? These are questions that only the White Paper and any subsequent findings will conclusively answer.
Tambuwal’s political decline, therefore, is not occurring in isolation. Rather, it reflects years of strained relationships, broken alliances, and growing dissatisfaction with his stewardship. His fallout with Senator Wamakko, once his political benefactor, has proved particularly damaging. In the eyes of the average Sokoto man and woman Tambuwal bit the finger that fed him.
It is therefore unsurprising that powerful forces within the APC were determined to bring an end to Tambuwal’s political career in 2027. Led by former party chairman Isa Acida and backed by many influential stakeholders loyal to Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Governor Ahmed Aliyu, the defeat of Tambuwal and the dismantling of whatever remained of his political structure was none negotiable. Faced with this reality, Tambuwal ultimately chose political pragmatism, by withdrawing from the 2027 contest rather than risk a bruising electoral defeat.
The tactical withdrawal of the man once referred to as “absentee governor” marks the end of the chapter in the career of a politician who once stood among Nigeria’s most prominent political figures. A man only the COVID-19 lockdown kept from his frequent trips. From Speaker of the House of Representatives to Governor of Sokoto State and later Senator, Tambuwal occupied some of the highest offices in the land. His narrow escape in the 2019 governorship election and the defeat of his party in the 2023 governorship contest confirmed to him that his time was up.
Ultimately, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal’s story is a cautionary tale for up coming politicians —a reminder that political maneuvering and media-crafted popularity cannot substitute for good governance and genuine grassroots support.
His political journey serves as an important lesson for politicians on the value of focus and performance in public office. Politics, as he discovered, can be unforgiving when ambition is not matched by achievements that resonate with the people. His experience underscores the reality that power ultimately belongs to the electorate, who judge public officials by their ability to deliver results when entrusted with responsibility. Leadership opportunities are not permanent, and those who attain high office must remain committed to governance, responsive to the needs of the people, and determined to leave behind accomplishments capable of withstanding the test of time.
Could Aminu Tambuwal have performed better had he first passed through the crucible of grassroots governance before ascending to the Speakership and governorship? It is a question worth asking. In Nigeria, politicians often leap over critical stages of political apprenticeship. The recruitment process into high executive office rarely prioritizes tested administrative experience. Yet governance is mastered through practice—managing councils, balancing lean budgets, supervising small-scale projects, resolving community disputes, and understanding the realities of service delivery before presiding over an entire state’s machinery.
It is perhaps unfortunate that a politician once celebrated as one of Nigeria’s brightest political prospects now finds himself retiring when his new mentor Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at over 80 years has refused to retire. Aminu Tambuwal’s decline is not occurring in a vacuum, it is the culmination of years of terrible political decisions,and perceived betrayals. His fallout with Senator Wamakko, once his most important political benefactor, remains the most consequential of them all.
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