Sokoto APC slams Tambuwal, welcomes PDP defectors

The All Progressives Congress in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State has criticised former governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, accusing him of neglecting his home community during his time in office, while commending the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu for prioritising grassroots development.

Speaking at an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Tambuwal, the party’s chairman, Isa Achida, said the current administration has demonstrated the relevance of local governments through visible projects, appointments, and empowerment programmes across the area.

Achida also faulted Tambuwal’s involvement in what he described as a political coalition made up of “the same old politicians moving from one party to another,” dismissing it as “old wine in a new bottle.”

“They claim to be a new movement, but the people are not new to us. They are the same politicians who failed our state in the past,” he said.

He urged youths in Tambuwal Local Government to support continuity rather than align with what he described as a coalition with nothing new to offer, adding that Aliyu had achieved more for the area within a short period than previous administrations.

The APC chairman also commended the organisers of the meeting, describing it as timely, and formally welcomed defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, including three former councillors, who he said defected as a result of the governor’s developmental strides.

Achida assured the decampees of equal rights within the party and urged them to return to their communities to mobilise support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This is a family meeting of the APC. We are here to assess what our government has done and plan ahead for the future,” he said.

The Chairman of Tambuwal Local Government, Naigari Tambuwal, who was represented by the Speaker of the Council, Nasiru Jabo, pledged the council’s commitment to surpass its performance in the last election.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Ala, disclosed that no fewer than three mega schools had been approved for Tambuwal Local Government to expand access to education.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Aminu Dikko, praised party youths in the area for their loyalty and organisation, while commending Aliyu for justifying the confidence reposed in him by APC leader, Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

“Anyone who visits Sokoto today can attest to the transformation taking place across the state,” Dikko said, urging the government to properly document its achievements to counter misinformation.

He disclosed that 83 indigenes of Tambuwal Local Government had been appointed to various political offices, including commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries, and board members.

Dikko added that over 8,300 residents of the area had benefited from financial support from the state government, with beneficiaries receiving a minimum of ₦100,000 each.

Responding to speculations about a possible elective ambition, Dikko dismissed the claims, insisting that he would only act based on the directive of the party leadership.

“In Sokoto, we operate like a family. The head of the family decides,” he said.

The meeting ended with party leaders expressing confidence that the APC would defeat any opposition in the 2027 general elections, citing achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, water supply, and power across the state.

Efforts to get the reaction of the former governor were unsuccessful, as calls to Tambuwal’s line were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

However, the spokesperson for the PDP in the state, Hassan Sanyinnawal, said the party would respond at the appropriate time.