By Awwal Umar, Kontagora The former Social Democratic Party (SDP) chairmanship candidate for Kontagora Local Government Area, Ho...
By Awwal Umar, Kontagora
The former Social Democratic Party (SDP) chairmanship candidate for Kontagora Local Government Area, Hon. Garba Ibrahim Madara, has defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking to journalists, Hon. Madara explained that he had intended to join the ADC before the last local government elections. However, he said the party was, at the time, not legally eligible to participate in the elections.
He added that following consultations with the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and other SDP stakeholders in Niger State, it was agreed that they would contest under the SDP and later defect to the ADC after the elections.
According to him, with the elections now concluded, the move to the ADC has been actualized. He expressed optimism that the alliance between the ADC and other political interests would yield positive results.
Hon. Madara, who described himself as the leader of SDP chairmanship and councillorship candidates in the state, disclosed that about 80 percent of those who contested under the SDP have now defected to the ADC.
He noted that the focus is no longer on contesting elections, but on building a strong political platform capable of addressing the challenges facing Niger State, particularly in the Niger North region.
“We are not talking about contesting elections now; we are talking about building a party that can unite us to rescue Niger State, especially Niger North,” he said.
Madara lamented the lack of basic infrastructure in the region, citing poor road networks, inadequate electricity supply, and lack of access to clean drinking water. He also raised concerns over insecurity, noting that many lives and properties have been lost, with hundreds of residents displaced from their communities.
He accused elected officials under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of neglecting the plight of the people, alleging that their focus has been on personal gain rather than governance.
“None of the elected leaders has come forward to show concern over the hardship faced by our people,” he said. “Instead, as elections approach, they resort to distributing small amounts of money and food items to the public.”
He further criticized what he described as token gestures by politicians, including the distribution of small cash sums and bags of rice to voters.
Highlighting the condition of healthcare in Kontagora, Madara stated that despite being the headquarters of Niger North, the area lacks a functional government hospital capable of handling emergencies promptly.
The politician called on residents of Niger State, particularly women and youths, not to be swayed by short-term inducements ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that such actions could undermine their future.
“If people allow themselves to be influenced by these handouts and fail to make the right choices in 2027, their suffering will continue,” he warned.
He also alleged that the APC-led government lacks genuine commitment to improving the welfare of citizens.
Madara, however, commended the leadership of the SDP in Kontagora, especially party officials and the women’s leader, for their support during his candidacy. He urged them to join him in the ADC to continue what he described as the struggle to reposition Niger State.
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