Senator Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto Central) yesterday welcomed a delegation of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, delivering a significant boost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State.
The group, led by Alhaji Chika Sarkin-Gishiri, Chairman of the Sokoto State Traders Associations, was formally received into the APC by Wamakko at his residence in Sokoto.
The event formed part of the celebrations marking the two-year anniversary of Governor Ahmed Aliyuโs APC administration.
Wamakko, a influential political leader in Sokoto and former governor of the state, thanked the traders for joining the ruling party and assured them of full integration and fair treatment.
โThere is no reason not to carry all the traders along. Now that you have agreed to work with the government, we believe a lot will be achieved,โ he said.
The senator commended the progressive reforms sweeping across Sokoto under Governor Aliyuโs administration, hailing them as both tangible and transformative.
Highlighting the governorโs commitment to economic revitalisation, he cited the extensive reconstruction of Sokoto Central Market, a critical commercial nerve centre devastated by fire, as emblematic of the governmentโs investor-friendly policies.
He further disclosed the stateโs forthcoming economic empowerment initiative, a major financial support scheme designed to strengthen small and medium-scale enterprises statewide.
Highlighting the administration’s commitment to public utilities, Senator Wamakko revealed the APC government’s comprehensive capacity enhancement programme for the State Water Board to ensure sustainable water provision.
He criticized the systemic neglect under the previous administration, describing their dismantling of critical water infrastructure as reckless governance that betrayed public trust.
Despite those setbacks, he assured the traders that more developmental projects were in the pipeline to further position Sokoto as one of the most progressive states in the federation.
In his remarks, Alhaji Sarkin-Gishiri described the defection as a major blow to the PDP in Sokoto, noting that several influential business leaders had now shifted their allegiance to the APC.
โOur decision is driven by a genuine desire to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state. We believe in the APCโs direction and weโre here to support it fully,โ he said.
Also speaking, a former chairman of the association and current Chairman of the Sokoto State Chamber of Commerce, Alhaji Ladan Almustapha, commended Wamakko for his unwavering mentorship and leadership over the years.
He confirmed that the associationโs leadership was united in its decision to back the APC administration in its effort to build a stronger economic and political base for Sokoto.
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