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Governor Ahmad Aliyu is two months away from his third anniversary. The preponderance of opinion, however, is that he will have an easy sail to a second term because he has been transformational in the execution of his 9-Point Smart agenda these past 34 months. For him, what began as a campaign promise has translated into visible, measurable transformation across infrastructure, security, education, health, water supply, and economic empowerment. These are in spite of hurdles posed by inherited liabilities in unpaid pensions, decaying infrastructure, and eroded public trust. Aliyu’s stewardship has so far delivered over 350 completed projects, averaging 10 projects per month. This relentless pace of delivery has not only restored hope to the people of Sokoto but has systematically dismantled the opposition’s narrative. With his project delivery record, Aliyu leaves his critics fragmented, and their attacks blunted by undeniable performance. With those also, he has created a political landscape where his re-election in 2027 promises to be seamless. Aliyu’s re-election is certain to be driven by public acclaim, legislative endorsement, and the collapse of organised opposition, which has been shut down by the outcome of transformational leadership.
The governor inherited a state grappling with multi-layered challenges. Sokoto stagnated between 2015 and 2023. Rural roads remained impassable, urban centres congested, water schemes were abandoned, public infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, was ignored, places of worship and Islamic scholarship were left to deteriorate, and banditry threatened 13 local government areas. Aliyu’s first 100 days alone witnessed over 100 initiatives. That was a signal of intent. By February 2026, more than 350 projects had been completed across all sectors. The state’s capital expenditure consistently prioritised infrastructure development. For instance, 66 per cent of the 2025 budget of N526.88 billion was directed at infrastructure. This is not rhetoric; it is a governance model built on accountability, inter-ministerial coordination, and citizen-centric decision-making. The opposition couldn’t fault this without looking foolish.
As at today, over 240 township roads have been completed, with another 40 ongoing. Solar-powered streetlights now illuminate major thoroughfares in all 23 local government areas, enhancing night-time commerce and safety. Rural feeder roads spanning 101.65 kilometres, including the Huchi-Gidan Kamba-Lugu junction, Wurno-Kwargaba-Sabongari, and Goronyo-Kirare routes, have been rehabilitated, and now links farmers to markets. That has reduced post-harvest losses. In the metropolis, the flagging-off of 47 roads in Tudun Wada and Unguwar Rogo at N8.99 billion in January 2024 decongested the capital and expanded economic opportunities, while wire fencing along major corridors has curbed accidents. These projects bridge the historical urban-rural divide, a gap previous administrations ignored.
Water supply, once a perennial crisis, now exemplifies restoration. The N14.1 billion Tamaje Water Scheme and the revival of six township schemes such as Tamaje, Old Airport, Gagi, Mana, Runjin Sambo, and Ruga Liman, now boast a combined capacity of 40 million gallons per day. The Old Airport scheme alone delivers three million gallons daily after obsolete equipment was replaced and alternative power sources installed. Residents who once paid between N200 to N300 per jerrycan now access clean water. These have reduced cases of water-borne diseases like diarrhoea.
Education and health have also received unprecedented attention. The 2025 budget allocated 25 per cent to education. This is above UNESCO recommended 15 per cent to 20 per cent benchmark for developing nations. Schools have been renovated, instructional materials supplied, examination fees paid promptly, and learning environments upgraded. In health, dilapidated primary healthcare centres across 244 wards have been revived and equipped. New general hospitals are under construction, free maternity care introduced statewide, and staffing strengthened. Immunisation rates have risen through deliberate engagement with traditional and religious leaders. These investments address human capital deficits while signalling a shift from ad hoc spending to strategic, results-driven budgeting.
Security, which is the bedrock of any developmental agenda, has also seen decisive action. Aliyu acquired over 140 Buffalo vehicles and motorcycles, established a military base at Illela, and provided consistent financial and logistical support to security agencies. The effect is that banditry, which was once rampant, has been significantly curtailed. The governor’s 2026 New Year message reiterated consolidation of these gains, vowing to sustain operations in affected areas. This proactive stance has restored confidence, and enabled farmers and traders to operate freely.
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Economic empowerment and social welfare complete the picture. Programmes such as NG-CARES, Ahmadu-CARES, and the innovative “Katin Sauki” provide 20 per cent subsidised foodstuffs to public servants and pensioners while youth and women receive grants, skills training, and entrepreneurial support. Housing initiatives, including the groundbreaking of a 500-unit Sokoto New City estate, with plans for 5,000 units by 2027, addresses housing deficits and promote urban dignity. The 2026 Appropriation Bill of N758.7 billion, dubbed the “People’s Budget,” was shaped through extensive town-hall consultations, an evidence of participatory governance.
These achievements stem from Aliyu’s distinctive leadership philosophy, for aliyu, announcements signal intention, but delivery completes the covenant. That is the Aliyu mantra with which he has driven institutional reforms and ensured civil service accountability, written policy analyses, transparent disciplinary measures, and strengthened inter-ministerial committees. Stakeholder engagement with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and communities has restored the peoples trust in government and created a new governance framework that promotes participatory democracy.
This results-driven, transparent, and consultative approach has redefined governance in Sokoto, moving it from personality-driven politics to system-embedded progress. It has led to the systematic collapse of opposition in Sokoto. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which governed Sokoto from 2015 to 2023, initially mounted fierce criticism, accusing the administration of mismanagement and fund diversion. Fake news campaigns and sponsored attacks, including viral videos and social media assaults, sought to erode public confidence. However, it spectacularly failed. By mid-2025, PDP’s narrative of a “lackluster” tenure rang hollow against 350 completed projects, reduced banditry, and improved living standards. Attempts to “pull Aliyu down” collapsed under the weight of evidence with residents, traditional rulers, and even some opposition voices now acknowledge the dividends of good governance.
Most telling is the cross-party and institutional shift. Sokoto State House of Assembly lawmakers, including Speaker Tukur Bala Bodinga, have become chief promoters of Aliyu’s second term. Citing roads, housing, empowerment schemes, security vehicles, and the military base, the Speaker declared: “One good term deserves another. The governor has more than justified his election, and this is a general consensus of the people.” The Assembly plans a formal vote of confidence and will urge the APC to grant an automatic ticket to Governor Aliyu for 2027. This is a reflection of a harmonious executive-legislative relations, which has seen the passage of 25 progressive bills, many assented to by the governor. Added to this is the governor’s humility, accountability, and religious disposition, which have endeared him further across partisan lines.
Looking ahead to 2027, these dynamics guarantee a seamless ride. The APC’s internal cohesion, lawmakers’ push for an automatic ticket, youth mobilisation, and the governor’s consolidation strategy for 2026 leave little room for credible challengers. His performance metrics provide an unassailable campaign platform. Unlike previous cycles marked by litigation, the current trajectory suggests minimal contest. Sokoto voters reward results and they have witnessed results in real time. Aliyu’s leadership has proven that transformational change is possible through sincerity, discipline, and love for the people.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s good governance since May 2023 exemplifies how visionary leadership can reshape a state and its politics. Delivering on the Nine-Point Smart Agenda he has not only improved lives but dismantled the opposition’s foundation. Critics who once dominated discourse now operate in the shadows, as their influence evaporate under public gratitude and legislative endorsement. Governor Aliyu’s path to a second term is paved not by political machinations but by tangible transformation. Sokoto stands as a testimony as to what happens when leadership matches promises with delivery. Under such frameworks, the opposition collapses, and re-election becomes inevitable. Meanwhile, Aliyu’s story is still unfolding. For now, the people of Sokoto have seen the difference and they are ready to affirm it.
