Tinubu Will Win Without You - APC Chairman Mocks Northern Coalition

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, Alhaji Isa Sadiq-Achida, has dismissed recent efforts to form a political coalition in Northern Nigeria, branding the initiative as a mere alliance of politicians with no real electoral influence.

In an exclusive interview with PUNCH at the Government House in Sokoto on Saturday, Sadiq-Achida said such a coalition poses no threat to President Bola Tinubu’s political base in the North.

“Even if any so-called coalition comes up in the North, Sokoto alone can produce enough votes to cover any shortfall for President Tinubu,” he stated confidently.

The APC chairman also took a swipe at former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying the ex-governor has lost his political standing, especially in Southern Kaduna, where he allegedly alienated the population during his tenure.

“I don’t believe El-Rufai still holds political weight in Kaduna. He hurt the people of Southern Kaduna badly and didn’t allow them to vote freely,” he said.

Turning his attention to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Sadiq-Achida alleged that Atiku was grappling with internal party challenges and declining popularity in his home state of Adamawa.

“Everyone saw that Senator Aishatu Binani won that election, but something else played out. Atiku is also struggling with his state governor and recently had his traditional title revoked. That says a lot,” he remarked.

He further ridiculed those behind the coalition push, describing them as lacking true grassroots support.

“These people are not politicians in the real sense—they exist only on paper. Many of them can’t even win their own polling units,” he said.

Citing former Senator Abubakar Gada as an example, Sadiq-Achida accused him of attempting to destabilize the APC before defecting to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he contested the 2023 governorship election and performed poorly.

“Take Senator Abu Gada, for example. He tried to divide the APC, went to court and failed. Then he moved to the SDP, contested for governor, and secured just 230 votes out of 3,900 polling units in Sokoto. He didn’t even win his own unit,” he said.

According to the APC chairman, Gada lacks a strong support base in his hometown of Gadawa, noting that many locals barely recognize him.

“He spent most of his career at the NNPC and only entered politics during Wamakko’s tenure, when he was handed a Senate ticket. After winning, he turned against Wamakko. Once the ticket was taken back, he couldn’t win anything—not even in his ward,” he added.

Sadiq-Achida concluded by reiterating the APC’s stronghold in Sokoto and expressed confidence that the state would continue to deliver overwhelming support for President Tinubu and the party in upcoming elections.