ABUJA: Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress APC from Yobe South Senatorial District have raised the alarm over what they described as deliberate exclusion of their zone from federal appointments under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Led by Hon. Sambo Kakawa, the delegation stormed the Presidential Villa and also met with key APC power brokers in Abuja to register their protest.
In a post-event statement signed by Kakawa, the group lamented that despite contributing the highest number of votes to the APC in Yobe during the 2023 general election, Yobe South had been sidelined in the sharing of federal appointments.
According to Independent National Electoral Commission INEC figures cited in the petition, Yobe South has over 617,000 registered voters — about 43 percent of the state’s total 1.48 million registered voters — yet has no representation in the federal cabinet or major agencies.
Kakawa contrasted this with the minority zones, Yobe East and Yobe North, which have been richly rewarded with ministerial slots, executive secretaryships, directorships and board chairmanships.
“In politics, population and majority votes are key considerations for leaders. The voice of Yobe South, the majority zone, must not be ignored,” he said.
The stakeholders warned that continued exclusion could affect the APC’s fortunes in the 2027 elections, appealing to President Tinubu to urgently appoint a Yobe South indigene to a key position as a demonstration of inclusivity and fairness.
The delegation specifically endorsed Hon. Haruna Sardauna, current Director General of Renewed Hope Ambassadors, to replace the outgoing Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. They thanked Arewa youth groups and North-East APC stakeholders for supporting his candidacy, while also urging Vice President Kashim Shettima and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to intervene.
Hon. Kakawa also commended Governor Mai Mala Buni for ensuring Yobe South enjoys strategic positions at the state level, including the deputy governorship, speaker of the state assembly, and key commissioners. He urged the governor to use his influence to secure federal appointments for the zone.
Presidential aides who received the delegation reportedly assured them that their grievances would be looked into, with a promise of greater inclusivity going forward.
