African Democratic Congress (ADC) has recorded a major political boost in Sokoto State following the defection of hundreds of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who cited worsening insecurity, economic hardship and what they described as the government’s neglect of ordinary Nigerians.
The defectors, drawn from Samo Village in Tambuwal Local Government Area, said their decision was informed by the country’s deteriorating economic conditions, rising insecurity and declining public confidence in the APC-led administration.
Speaking during their formal reception at the ADC State Secretariat in Sokoto, the group, comprising women, youth leaders and grassroots political mobilisers from Faga/Alasan Ward, said leaving the APC was a clear demonstration of their dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s leadership.
According to the defectors, they reached the decision after carefully assessing the APC’s performance since it assumed power in 2015.
“We have taken out time to do lots of comparison between the ruling APC and the former PDP and have come to the conclusion that the APC has only increased cost of living, forced million of Nigerians into abject poverty, superintend over worsening insecurity, chocked political freedom, and hampered all avenues of improved livelihood for the ordinary Nigerians.
“The APC promised us economic prosperity but have succeeded in impoverishing Nigerians even the more. They promised improved security but we now have improved insecurity. APC promised us agricultural improvement, but now we can no longer access our farms. Most Nigerians are now displaced.
“Most painfully, the APC-led government have clearly shown that interest of the masses is not their priority. If not so, how do you explain the rationale behind fuel subsidy removal? How do justify the consistent external borrowing? And how do you justify the undue tax policies placed on Nigerians by the APC government despite the harsh economic reality?”
The defectors maintained that the APC had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians and predicted that more members of the ruling party would join the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Receiving the defectors, the Sokoto State Chairman of the ADC, Hon. Abdullahi Mai Gwandu, described their decision as courageous and timely.
“We warmly welcome our brothers and sisters who have chosen to identify with the ADC. Their decision demonstrates confidence in our vision of building a better Nigeria where citizens’ welfare remains a top priority,” Mai Gwandu said.
In his welcome address, the ADC Chairman in Tambuwal Local Government Area, Alhaji Bello Dan Marafa, described the mass defection as a sign of changing political fortunes in the state.
He said the development marked “the beginning of the end” for the APC, insisting that many Nigerians had become disillusioned with the ruling party and now see the ADC as a credible alternative capable of delivering good governance.
