By Israel Bulus
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Isa Sadiq-Achida, has dismissed recent moves to form a Northern political coalition as an alliance of “paperweight politicians” lacking electoral value.
Speaking in Sokoto on Saturday, Sadiq-Achida expressed confidence in the APC’s grassroots dominance, especially in Sokoto State, stressing that the state would remain a key pillar of support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling party in any future election.
“Even if any so-called coalition emerges in the North, Sokoto alone will deliver enough votes to bridge any gaps for President Tinubu,” the APC chairman said.
Sadiq-Achida also took a swipe at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, questioning his political relevance, particularly in Southern Kaduna.
“I doubt that El-Rufai will have any meaningful political future in Kaduna. The people of Southern Kaduna were deeply hurt under his tenure. He didn’t even allow them to vote freely,” he claimed.
Turning to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Sokoto APC leader argued that the opposition PDP figurehead was battling internal party strife and a weakening hold in his home base.
“Everyone knows Senator Aishatu Binani won that election in Adamawa. Atiku is even struggling with his own governor, and he just lost his traditional title. That says it all,” he said.
Sadiq-Achida maintained that many figures behind the proposed Northern coalition lacked genuine grassroots structures.
“Most of them cannot even win their polling units. They are politicians on paper, not on the ground,” he said.
Citing the case of former Senator Abubakar Gada, he accused the one-time APC chieftain of being a planted spoiler who eventually failed in his political ambitions.
“Senator Abu Gada was used to divide the APC. He went to court and lost, defected to the SDP and contested for governorship. Out of 3,900 polling units in Sokoto, he got only 230 votes. He didn’t win a single polling unit,” Sadiq-Achida claimed.
He added that Gada’s political relevance in his native Gadawa was negligible, alleging that most residents barely knew him.
“He spent his career at the NNPC and only came into politics when Governor Wamakko gave him a senatorial ticket. After that, he turned against his benefactor. Since then, he hasn’t been able to win anything,” he said.
The APC chairman reaffirmed the party’s solid structure in Sokoto and insisted that no emerging alliance in the region poses a threat to the ruling party’s electoral standing.
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