A coalition of youth groups in Sokoto State on Monday expressed support for Alhaji Sagir Bafarawa to contest the governorship position in the 2023 elections.

Representatives of 25 groups presented the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form to Bafarawa on March 30, for him to contest the governorship election.

Bafarawa, son of former Gov. Attahiru Bafarawa, who is also the present Commissioner for Environment in the state, has declared his intention to join the governorship race on the PDP platform.

Malam Almustapha Sarkin-Baki, who spoke on behalf of the groups, said they considered the achievements of Bafarawa in his capacity as a commissioner as well as his being a youth ambassador.

Sarkin-Baki noted that “Based on these and previous records, Bafarawa deserves the group’s collective support to continue with the good leadership of Sokoto State’s incumbent Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.”

”No fewer than 25 indigenous groups, comprising traders’ union, farmers associations, community-based groups, youths and women associations, and others, contributed money to purchase the PDP nomination form for Bafarawa.

”We collectively decided to woo Bafarawa to join the contest. We are optimistic that he will succeed in becoming the next Sokoto State governor in 2023.

”The groups intensify efforts to mobilise more supporters for Bafarawa across Sokoto State as he has the credibility to convince people to elect him, ” Sarkin-Baki said.

In his reaction, Bafarawa said he was still reaching out to party elders as well as other stakeholders for further consultations.

”As a loyal party member, I visited the party secretariat and consulted the party’s leadership before accepting to join the race.

”PDP leadership testified that I was the first person to approach the party office on my ambition to contest the 2023 election.

”Being a commissioner in the present administration, I have gained a lot of experience from the leadership style of Gov. Tambuwal.

“Therefore, I will continue in that direction if I am eventually elected as the governor of Sokoto State,” he said.

Bafarawa further pledged to run an all-inclusive administration that would involve all the people of the state for more people engagement and development, if elected.