The wave of defections has continued in the Sokoto State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as about 18,371 card carrying members of the party from Sabon Birni local government area of the State have decided to joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Receiving the new defectors into the PDP on Sunday, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the upcoming general elections, Mallam Saidu Umar, assured them that God willing, they’ve defected to the winning party, the party which ensures fairness and inclusiveness of all it members.
Speaking further, the governorship glagbearer said his administration if given the mandate will sustain and improve on the legacies of the present administration especially in the area that directly affects the wellbeing of the people of the State.
He also said that the areas of education, agriculture, youth and women empowerment and security will receive the topmost priority.
Commenting on the security challenges bedeviling the eastern part of Sokoto State, specifically Sabon Birni LGA, Umar said if given the opportunity to govern the State from 2023, he will restore normalcy and peaceful coexistence in the area.
He commended the present administration on the significant role it had been playing to eradicate the scourge of insecurity in the area. He assured the people of the local government area that he will improve and deploy more on the existing strategies employed by present Aminu Waziri Tambuwal administration.
He extolled the score card of the Tambuwal administration on the agricultural revolution, which he said, God willing, farmers in the area will return back to their farms.
Umar noted that his expertise in agriculture coupled with being a farmer, and his commitment in the area will certainly help in revamping the sector.
The governorship candidate added that God has already answered the prayers of the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, in Jos that God should bless the PDP.
He attributed the tornado-like defections from APC as a blessing, and a pointer that Nigerians were tired of hunger and the cluelessness of the APC-led administration at the centre.
In his remarks, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Sokoto East, Hon. Shu’aibu Gwanda Gobir, knocked the APC in Sokoto, for not identifying with the people in the area during their trying times.
He said the unprecedented crowd that turned out at the occasion had signposted a landslide victory of the PDP in the forthcoming 2023 elections.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Alh. Halilu Maiburodi, said their reason for the defection to PDP was borne out of the emergence of Umar/Sagir Bafarawa joint ticket.
“Umar’s impeccable track record in private and public sectors and Hon. Bafarawa’s impact in the economy and his youthfulness are compelling factors that are drawing people into the party,” he stated.
At the event were the deputy governorship candidate, Hon Sagir Attahiru Bafarawa, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Information and Supervising Commissioner, Ministry of Youth, Hon Aqibu Dalhatu; Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Security and Careers, Alh Muhammad Maikuddi, LG Chairman in the area, party officials, among others.