By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staged a show of force in Jigawa State on Wednesday as a massive crowd welcomed its campaign train for Saturday’s Babura/Garki Federal Constituency by-election.
Party leaders, including 2023 governorship candidate Mustapha Sule Lamido, State Chairman Babandi Ibrahim, Senator Mustapha Khabeeb, and other chieftains, stormed Babura to present the party flag to PDP candidate Alhaji Auwalu Isah Manzo.
The campaign tour passed through several villages before culminating in a rally where Lamido urged voters to translate their enthusiasm into decisive votes. He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plunging Jigawa and Nigeria into hardship, reversing what he described as the PDP’s legacy of human and infrastructural development.
Warning constituents not to be swayed by “spaghetti, poor-quality wrappers, and token gifts,” Lamido told them to reject betrayal within the APC and vote wisely.
PDP Chairman Babandi Ibrahim declared the by-election “the beginning of the end for APC” in Jigawa, describing the ruling party as one of “lies, propaganda, and squandered funds.” Senator Khabeeb praised the turnout of women and youths, urging them not to sell their votes but to back the PDP.
Candidate Auwalu Isah Manzo pledged effective and accountable representation if elected, promising not to let his constituents down. The seat became vacant following the death of Isa Dogonyaro in May last year.
