‘I Cannot Remain In A System That Fails My People’, Sokoto Senator Lamido To Quit APC Over Insecurity

Senator Ibrahim Lamido, representing Sokoto East Senatorial District of Sokoto State, has announced plans to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing worsening insecurity and what he described as the government’s inadequate response to bandit attacks in his constituency.

Speaking to journalists in Sokoto on Friday, the lawmaker said his decision was driven by the need to stand with his constituents, many of whom have been displaced and stripped of their livelihoods due to persistent violence.

“My people are going through untold hardship. Communities have been destroyed by bandits, and I cannot continue to remain in a system that has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to addressing this crisis,” he said.

Lamido noted that repeated attacks across communities in Sokoto East have devastated several villages, forcing residents to flee and leaving many without basic means of survival. He added that his efforts to attract federal intervention and draw attention to the situation have not produced meaningful results.

According to him, extensive consultations with political associates, supporters, and community leaders led to a collective decision to leave the ruling party in search of a platform that prioritises security and grassroots development.

The lawmaker stressed that safeguarding lives and property remains the primary responsibility of any government, warning that failure in this regard must be met with accountability. He also called on the Federal Government to intensify its fight against banditry, cautioning that continued inaction could deepen the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Sokoto East, which includes areas such as Sabon Birni, Isa, and Rabah, has become a major hotspot for banditry in northwestern Nigeria. Armed groups have carried out repeated attacks, leading to killings, abductions, and large-scale displacement of residents.

Despite ongoing military operations, many communities continued to experience sporadic violence, with residents often forced to seek refuge in safer areas.

While Lamido did not disclose his next political move, some of his allies who recently left the APC were believed to have joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).