By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
As the All Progressives Congress, ( APC) in Sokoto State is intensifying its campaign strategies towards wooing more support for the victory of the party come 2023 elections, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in two Local Government Areas of Sokoto East Senatorial Zone of the State, over 11,000 members of the party, NNPP and LP, among others, have dumped the parties for APC.
Sokoto East Senatorial candidate, Ibrahim Lamido Isa, alongside the deputy gubernatorial candidate in the State Idris Muhammad Gobir and other top party officials in the areas were present to welcome the decampees into the fold of the APC.
In Gwadabawa LGA, the defectors included 1,425 members from Gwadabawa Ward, 500 from Atakwanyo Ward, 1,159 from Gigane Ward, 755 from Asara South and 1,009 from Asara North, respectively.
Other decampees were: 1,500 from Gidan Kaya Ward, 900 from Chimmola Ward, Tambagarka Ward has 1,750 members, then from Huchi Ward 605, while from Salame Ward 1,850 left for APC, as 660 decampees were received from Mammande Ward in the area.
Among the newcomers into the APC were: Alhaji Awaisu Kaimi, Alhaji Abdullahi Sulaiman Mammande, Chief Imam of Mammande Jumu’at Mosque, Imam Muhammad Rabi’u, Village Head of Mammande Alhaji Mustapha Magaji and PDP Women Leader in Gwadabawa LGA, Hajiya Hauwa’u Muhammad.
Others were: Alhaji Hassan Gidan Kaya, Alhaji Sama’ila Shehu Salame, the Youths leader from Salame Ward, Chimmola’s Ward Women leader Hajiya Atto, PDP Women leader and her deputy in Mammande Ward, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu and Hajiya Safiya Aliyu, while Alhaji Bashiru Umar Chimmola and Alhaji Inuwa Mansur were received from Chimmola Ward, then Alhaji Sani Yawale was received from Tambagarka Ward, as well as many of them who dumped their former parties for APC.
APC Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate, Hon. Idris Muhammad Gobir received the defectors into APC on behalf of APC leader in the State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and other leaders of the party in the State.
In his comment, Hon. Ibrahim Lamido Isa, APC Senatorial Candidate in Sokoto East, described Gwadabawa as a second home to him, saying he has no doubt that APC will continue to win the election in the area looking at the enormous crowd seen during the mini occasion for the reception of the decampees in the area.
Ibrahim Lamido, explained that PDP in the State has failed woefully in providing the Democratic dividends to the people of the state.
He said the state government has indebted the State with too much funds but, failed to justify what it expended the money for, therefore, he called on the people of the state particularly those of Gwadabawa to come out en masse to vote for APC so as to ensure the administration of justice in the State.
In his speech, member, Sokoto State House of Assembly, representing Gwadabawa East who is also vying for same position in the area, Hon.Muhammad Bello Idris Chimmola, revealed that, APC in Gwadabawa Local Government is sealed and he is hopeful of its victory in all its contesting seats.
He assured the visiting guests that, they will continue to support the party for it’s dream goals, assuring the defectors that they will be carried along like any other member of the APC.
In his words, the candidate vying for the position of Gwadabawa/Illela Federal Constituency seat, who is also the current state House of Assembly member from Illela local Government, Hon. Bello Isah Ambarura, saluted the leadership style of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko especially when he was the Governor of the state where he said, a lot of projects were executed for the benefit of the people of the area and the state as a whole.
Some PDP defectors said they left the party for lack of courage and focus to drive the State as expected.
They also described Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko as a father and political mentor.
Other speakers at the occasion included, APC chairman in Gwadabawa Local Government, Alhaji Umaru Sanda Gigane, Alhaji Kasimu Alkali a Chieftain of the party in the area, among others.
Similarly, over 180 PDP members have decamped to APC in Illela Local government Area of the state.
Among the defectors were: Hajiya Hindatu Garba Kakawu, Hajiya Shamsiya Sirajo, Hajiya Sadiya Zakariyya and Hajiya Ramatu Saleh Adamu, to mention but a few.
APC Senatorial candidate in the zone, Hon. Ibrahim Lamido Isa, who was warmly received at Illela town as he was invited for a wedding, expressed happiness on the reception accorded him and his entourage.
He condoled the people of the area over the recent attack by gunmen adding that efforts were on to tackle the menace.
He described Illela as an APC strong base, adding that, he is confident of emerging victorious during the polls.
The candidate alongside, APC Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate, Hon. Idris Muhammad Gobir, APC Chairman in the area, Alhaji Muhammadu Sarkin Alaru, APC Zonal Chairman East, Alhaji Usman Giwa Illela and other top party’s officials later unveiled the senatorial Campaign office in Illela Local Government and the inauguration of 10 APC support groups for more mobilization to the party.
Meanwhile, APC Gubernatorial Candidate in Sokoto State, Hon. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, has received three former Councillors from Goronyo Local Government who dumped PDP for APC.
The defectors were: Hon. Bashar Abubakar Balla, a former Councillor from Kagara Ward, Hon. Sulaiman Tanimu from Boye Kai Ward and Hon. Mudahir Aliyu a former Councillor from Giyawa Ward, respectively.
They were all PDP Councillors from 2018-2021, and described their former party as a failed party which cannot deliver on its promises for 8 years in rule.
They described former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko as a good leader who provided, quality education, enhanced agriculture, healthcare, water supply, provided available fertilizer at subsidized rates as well as the constriction of roads at both urban and rural areas during his tenure as Governor.
They pledged to work together with APC leadership in the area for its vctory during the forthcoming polls.
