By Gbolan Salman, Sokoto
The gale of defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has continued in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, with more than 700 APC members from Goronyo and Shinaka wards joining the opposition party.
The latest defection, which took place on Monday, is the largest single movement of APC members to the ADC in the local government in recent times.
The defectors were led by a former APC Secretary in Goronyo Local Government and two-time Special Adviser to Sokoto State governors, Alhaji Aliyu Tunau Shinaka.
Others who joined the ADC included the APC Youth Leader in Goronyo Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Ado Taloka; Alhaji Kabiru Malam Isah Mai’alewa; and a prominent women leader and youth mobiliser, Hajiya Shafa’atu S/Pawa Goronyo.
Addressing the gathering, the defectors attributed their decision to leave the APC to what they described as poor leadership and neglect of party members and residents of the local government by the Minister of State for Works, Muhammad Bello Goronyo, who they identified as the APC leader in the area.
Shinaka said the decision was taken after repeated concerns over the welfare of APC members and the development of Goronyo failed to receive adequate attention.
He said, “We have remained committed members of the APC, but we can no longer continue to support a leadership that has abandoned its own people.
“We believe the ADC offers us a platform through which we can achieve meaningful change, provide better leadership and improve the welfare of our people.”
Also speaking, Taloka accused the Minister of State for Works of failing to provide effective leadership for the APC in Goronyo.
According to him, “The people have been left without meaningful support. We expected our leader to be concerned about the challenges confronting our communities, but that has not happened.
“We are joining the ADC because we believe it has the capacity to form governments at both the federal and state levels and bring security, peace and development to our people.”
The defectors also expressed concern over the security situation in Goronyo and neighbouring local government areas, accusing the minister of failing to adequately identify with communities affected by banditry and terrorism.
They alleged that the minister had not visited families who lost loved ones to attacks or provided support to families whose relatives were abducted.
Goronyo is among the local government areas in Sokoto East Senatorial District that have been severely affected by insecurity, with the defectors alleging that more than 100 residents are currently being held by bandits in different camps across the area.
They also criticised the Minister of State for Works over what they described as inadequate attention to federal roads in Sokoto East since his appointment to the Ministry of Works.
The defectors said they expected his position at the strategic ministry to translate into improved attention to federal roads serving the senatorial district.
The latest defection came barely a week after 154 men, women and youths from Ƙirare village in Goronyo Local Government reportedly left the APC for the ADC.
The Ƙirare defectors had cited alleged bad leadership and lack of concern for the welfare of APC members as reasons for their decision.
The successive defections have further heightened political activities in Goronyo ahead of the 2027 general elections.
