Ahead of next year’s general election, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Muhammad Sa’idu Gumburawa, and the entire structure of the party in Sokoto State have fused into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Gumburawa’s defection into APC, along with all the party’s flag bearers for other elective positions, including its three senatorial candidates, Alhaji Garzali Abdullahi (Sokoto North), Alhaji Bello Holai (Sokoto East) and their Sokoto West counterpart, is widely regarded as a positive development for the opposition party in the state.
Also included in the list of defectors is all the House of Representatives candidates, those vying for seats in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, as well as other officials across the state structures of the PRP.
In a statement by Special Assistant Media to Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Bashar Abubakar quoted Gumburawa as saying that their defection was targeted at strengthening the APC ahead of next year’s general election.
Gumburawa, the statement said, told Senator Aliyu Wamakko, the APC leader in Sokoto State that the ruling PDP has thrown the state into a regrettable situation and difficulties, hence “we collectively decided to team up with the APC in order to square up for a landslide victory to rescue the state and return it to its past glory. Gumburawa is the PRP leader in Sokoto State.
While receiving the defectors at a brief ceremony at his Gawon Mama Sokoto residence, Senator Aliyu Wamakko described Gumburawa as a friend and political partner in progress. He added that his defection to APC was timely and unprecedented; pointing out that the APC was a party for those wishing the state and country better development prospects.
He said: “The APC will closely and harmoniously work with you and your teeming supporters as a family with equal treatment as other members.”
Wamakko also promised to carry the defectors along in the party’s drive to renew the hope of Sokoto people if given the mandate next year, by providing quality healthcare delivery, educational development, boosting trade and investments, agricultural enhancement, civil servants’ welfare and other developmental aspects.
He assured Gumburawa that the APC will work with him and all his teeming supporters harmoniously.
The APC governorship candidate, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, congratulated Gumburawa and his allies for joining the APC. He assured him of equal treatment like all other APC members.
Ahmad Aliyu pledged to carry everybody along if given the mandate to govern the state.
