APC Sokoto in high spirit despite Gov. Tambuwal ‘s defection

Early this week, the Governor of Sokoto State and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on whose platform he became the governor of the state in 2015 back to his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he left in December 2014 with other aggrieved PDP members.

Recall that Tambuwal, the likes of senate President, Bukola Saraki, now Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Dino Melaye and others left the PDP in 2014 December after they felt that then President Goodluck Jonathan and some set of persons in the party hijacked the National Convention and sidelined them.

Unfortunately, the ruling party recently witnessed gale of defection as about 50 National Assembly members including the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Gov. of Kwara State Abdulfatai Ahmed, Samuel Ortom of Benue State and his Sokoto counterpart, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal joined the list of APC members of the nPDP extraction that defected back to their former party (PDP), a situation which has caused instability in the party with many being rumoured to join the queue of defectors.

Though the national chairman of the party and former Governor of Edo State has reportedly been trying to ensure that the party didn’t witness more defections, there are indications that the party would witness more defection.

However, the APC camp in Sokoto State despite the defection of their governor (Tambuwal) to the PDP, maintained that they were more united than divided.

The state was in a festive mood Friday preparatory to the arrival of the APC leader in the state, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, today (Saturday).

Wamakko, who is expected to be accompanied into town by Deputy Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobi, will address party supporters who have been massing in the state capital awaiting his arrival.

The former governor had said, earlier in the week, that those who were writing off the APC, following the defection of Governor Aminu Tambuwwal and 18 members of the state’s House of Assembly to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should wait till this weekend when he returns to Sokoto and see whether the APC is still in control or not.

Over the last few days, a lot of Sokoto residents have been expressing support for President Muhammadu Buhari openly, chanting pro-Buhari slogans.

Women and youth in particular displayed their joy amidst “Rarara’s” musical songs “Masu Gudu, Su Gudu (those who want to go can go).”

Similarly, posters of President Buhari, Senator Wamakko are displayed in many parts of the state capital.

Also accompanying Wamakko to Sokoto today are seven members of the House of Representatives from the state; the chairman of APC in the state, Alhaji Farouk Malami Yabo, and Alhaji Sadik Isah Achida, among other notable politicians.