You are among the 66,000 people who defected to the APC at a grand political rally. What influenced your decision to leave the NNPP?
Hon. Galambi: As you know, I was previously a member of the APC. However, certain reasons compelled me to leave and join the NNPP, under which I won my election. Now, new reasons have led me to rejoin the APC.
What are those reasons?
Hon. Galambi: The reason my supporters and I, along with thousands of others, decided to rejoin the APC is our love and patriotism towards the progress and development of Jigawa State and Nigeria at large.
I have been an active politician for decades, serving in different capacities—including as a commissioner—and I have been elected four times to represent my constituency in the National Assembly. The confidence my people have in me inspires me to always seek competent and reliable leaders to collaborate with for the broader strategic development of my constituency, state, and nation.
I was elected under the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), while our state governor, Malam Umar Namadi, was elected under the All Progressive Congress (APC). Since assuming office, Governor Namadi has demonstrated a clear vision and mission for the state under his 12-point agenda. He understands the needs and aspirations of the people of Jigawa and has shown an unwavering commitment to fulfilling them, elevating the state to greater heights in human, social, and economic development.
Governor Namadi’s purposeful leadership, inclusive governance, integrity, accountability, respect, and compassion for humanity are overwhelming to any patriotic citizen of Jigawa State. The impact of his policies, programs, and projects—which cut across all aspects of public service and infrastructure—is admirable to anyone who loves their people.
Today, every citizen of Jigawa is given a chance to participate in governance. Development projects are springing up in every polling unit, political ward, local government, and constituency. Everyone is enjoying the dividends of democracy in one way or another. As a patriotic citizen, I cannot allow myself to be left behind in this project of transforming Jigawa into a prosperous and great state. This is, indeed, what motivated our decision to rejoin the APC.
However, despite coming from an opposition party, I see that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been making significant impacts in rescuing the country’s economy, which had been in shambles for decades.
Due to the President’s audacity in making difficult and bold decisions for the collective national interest, our economy is reviving and becoming healthier. The federal, state, and local governments are now getting more resources to finance infrastructure, which is key to achieving sustainable social and economic development.
Regarding my constituency, President Tinubu approved about four billion Naira for the establishment of a Police College, as well as funds for electrification, erosion control, and many other projects that will improve the wellbeing of my people. This also encouraged me to return to my party, as it is led by competent and reliable captains.
You mentioned that no political party besides the APC has ever won a Jigawa governorship election since 1999. What do you mean by this statement, considering the PDP’s tenure between 2007 and 2015?
Hon. Galambi: Of course, no party has ever won the Jigawa gubernatorial election besides the APC, because the history is clear: the PDP, as a party, never won the Jigawa gubernatorial election. I consider the people to be the party, not the party to be the people.
In 1999, the APP won the Jigawa gubernatorial election. This party later changed to the ANPP in 2003. The ANPP was one of the legacy parties that formed the APC in 2014, which then won the Jigawa governorship in 2015, 2019, and 2023. We are optimistic about winning in 2027 and subsequent elections.
Between 2007 and 2015, the PDP ruled Jigawa, but it did not win the election as a party. It was we, the ANPP people, who switched to the PDP due to certain reasons. We went around and mobilized people to vote for the party’s candidates. This is how the PDP accidentally became the ruling party in our dear state.
You can see that since 2015, when the people of Jigawa pulled out and went back to their original party, the PDP has been positioned in its rightful place. It will soon become a nominal party in Jigawa—a party that may not even have a councillor in the state—and will continue to decline towards disappearance in the state.
Democracy is a game of pluralism. Are you not afraid that such mass defection from opposition parties to the ruling party will drift Jigawa into a one-party system?
Hon. Galambi: Democracy is a game of conviction. It is a system that gives everyone the right of choice, the right of association, and, above all, establishes a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. So, if all the people of Jigawa State choose to be in the APC, what is wrong with that? That is democracy.
To me, this mass defection is not a threat to democracy. Rather, it is an act that strengthens the right of choice, which is one of the key principles of democracy.
You have joined the APC. Are you aware of the existing internal crisis in the party, and which faction do you belong to?
Hon. Galambi: I am not aware of any internal crisis or faction in the Jigawa APC. I only know one APC. By virtue of the party’s constitution, Governor Namadi is the leader of the party in Jigawa State, and President Tinubu is the leader at the national level.
I am from Jigawa State, and Governor Namadi is the party leader, so I pledge my allegiance to him and all other party leaders. I also vow to work closely with them in promoting the party’s philosophy
.
The 2027 general election campaign and mobilization have already started by proxy. How are you going to approach it?
Hon. Galambi: The 2027 election is a one-way journey for me and any good citizen of Jigawa and Nigeria. I am going to campaign for the re-election of Governor Namadi and President Tinubu, as well as for the victory of our party in all elective positions across the country.
This was the message I gave to the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters during my speech at Dutse Stadium.
There is speculation that you are eyeing the Senate seat for Jigawa Central,?
Hon. Galambi: Hmm. All I know is that I am currently a serving House of Representatives member. I always wait for the decision of my people on what to do or not to do. So far, no one has approached me with such an issue. But this is politics, and you know time always works in the right direction.
