Senator Ibrahim Lamido of Sokoto East Senatorial District has announced his decision to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the worsening security situation in his constituency. He made the declaration on Friday while speaking with journalists in Sokoto, stating that the persistent banditry attacks across communities in the district had made it untenable for him to remain in the party. Lamido described the security crisis as alarming, with armed groups attacking villages, displacing residents, and crippling economic activities, especially farming. "My people are enduring untold hardship. Bandits have destroyed entire communities, and I cannot remain in a system that has failed to demonstrate sufficient commitment to resolving this crisis," Lamido said.
He revealed that the decision followed consultations with traditional leaders, political stakeholders, and supporters across Sokoto East, which includes Sabon Birni, Isa, and Rabah. The senator claimed he had previously raised the security concerns at the federal level but was disappointed by the inadequate response. Lamido insisted his move was not driven by personal ambition but by a commitment to stand with his constituents. He urged the federal government to intensify efforts to combat banditry in the North-West, warning of worsening humanitarian conditions if the violence continues.
A sitting senator publicly abandoning the ruling party over security failures is rare, and Lamido's exit signals deeper fractures within the APC's northern base. His direct reference to unheeded warnings at the federal level suggests that even party loyalists are losing patience with the administration's approach to banditry. For residents of Sokoto East, the resignation offers no immediate relief—Lamido's departure may resonate politically, but it does not alter the reality on the ground. The real test is whether other lawmakers will prioritise accountability over party loyalty.
