2023: Bigwigs Dump NNPP For PDP, As Sokoto Flags-off State Campaigns

The rank and file of the Sokoto branch of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) was significantly depleted Wednesday when the party Chairman and the state deputy gubernatorial candidate dumped it.

The erstwhile chairman of Sokoto state NNPP and deputy gubernatorial candidate are: Alhaji Bello Ahmad and Alhaji Ibrahim Ango respectively.

Both officials and undisclosed number of followers declared their allegiance for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the venue of the latter’s statewide campaign flag-off held at the sports field of Dange township in Dange-Shuni local government area of Sokoto state.

According to Ahmad, their decision to quit the NNPP was predicated on the quantum of significant achievements made by the PDP government in the state under the administration of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. 

“We have seen the good works of Gov. Tambuwal and the PDP in our state. And, we are convinced that there will be continuity under the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate, Mallam Saidu Umar (Mallam Ubandoman Sokoto),” Ahmad told the multitude of supporters at the campaign ground.

He assured that now that they have joined the PDP they would work assiduously to ensure its victory at all levels in the forthcoming elections next year.

In his remarks, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal also solicited the support of all stakeholders and indigenes of the state to vote for the party from the state assembly up to the presidency.

According to him, given the problems facing the country now, the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the only one among those vying for the position that is fit to run the country and salvage it from its current woes.

He expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their steadfastness and loyalty in the last seven years that he has been on the saddle, particularly mentioning their tenacity in supporting him when the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) attempted a gang up against him in the 2019 gubernatorial election.

He used the opportunity to outline some of the many achievements of his administration: education, health, agriculture, societal reorientation, job provisions etc. 

“All our achievements, manifest or latent, are tangible and known to all. The people are our witness and they are the best judge of what we have accomplished or failed to do,” the Governor explained.

The party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mallam Saidu Said Umar (Mallam Ubandoman Sokoto), whose Jigawa state counterpart, Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido graced the occasion, corroborated the Governor, pledging that all the projects on course now would be completed by his administration if he is voted into office.

He added that the theme of his administration will be “JAMA’A PROJECT,” derived from the campaign slogan of the progeny of Islamic re-awakening, who is also his ancestor, Sheikh Usmanu Danfodio; whose followers were known as “JAMA’AR SHEHU,” or “PEOPLE OF SHEHU.

According to him, this populist appeal will apply to how he’ll tackle problems the state is facing going forward, further pledging to confront opposition constructively, in the areas of education, job provisions, inclusivity and rolling back of insecurity.

Earlier, the state PDP chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Aliyu Goronyo, appealed to the huge supporters of the party at the rally and across the state to express similar solidarity with the party come elections days next year.

Highlights of the more than one hour rally, preceded by a snail pace movement, that took the party’s motorcade about two hours to navigate through the human sea on the stretch of the 21.5 kilometers from Sokoto metropolis to Dange town, were presentations of flags to the senatorial candidates including Governor Tambuwal; his deputy, Hon. Manir Dan Iya and Hon. Shuaibu Gwanda-Gobir, as well as the eleven contestants for the seats of House of Representatives across the state.

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Muhammad Bello

Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor 

December 28, 2022

Sokoto