In a bold grassroots-driven move, the Member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has appointed 64 new aides to reinforce the All Progressives Congress (APC) across all wards in the constituency.
The appointments, unveiled during an inauguration ceremony at his Pankshin constituency office over the weekend, include three special advisers, three senior special assistants, and 58 ward liaison officers—one for each electoral ward in PKK.
Notably, the new aides are not random picks. Gagdi tapped directly from the ranks of those who contested in the October 9, 2024 local government elections.
The former chairmanship candidates from Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam are now special advisers, while their respective running mates take up roles as senior special assistants.
The 58 liaison officers were all councillorship candidates in the same polls.For Gagdi, the appointments are not just political tokens but part of a broader strategy to deepen representation, bolster party structures, and ensure real-time feedback from the grassroots.
“The survival of our party is more important,”* Gagdi declared. “We must build and sustain the APC structure for the future—to keep the presidency under our party, to recover what we couldn’t achieve in 2023, and to secure our chances in 2027, including the possibility of producing a governor from Kanke.”
While the APC retains influence in Plateau State, Gagdi acknowledged the absence of executive power at the state level.
He said the appointees deserve recognition—not just for their loyalty—but also because some received favorable verdicts at the tribunal despite not being declared winners at the polls.
Beyond party politics, he described the move as a governance-focused decision aimed at strengthening community engagement.
“It is not right to leave these capable individuals stranded after what they invested during the elections,”* he said. “They have their own ideas and aspirations. With these appointments, they will play key roles in coordinating my constituency activities and the party’s operations in all 58 wards.”
Gagdi outlined three priorities for the team: mobilizing grassroots support, communicating local concerns to his Abuja and Jos offices, and tracking progress on constituency projects—particularly water infrastructure.
“Across the 58 federal wards, we need representatives who can update us on the progress of projects like borehole installations and repairs,”* he explained. “We expect over 500 to 600 such locations across PKK, and we need reliable hands on the ground.”
The aides, he added, will collaborate with his legislative team to streamline communications, flag emerging issues, and help spread his legislative and developmental agenda across PKK.
Remarkably, the entire scheme is self-funded. Gagdi revealed that the special advisers will earn N150,000 monthly, senior special assistants N100,000, and liaison officers N50,000—entirely from his personal resources.
“This is from my personal goodwill,”he said. “If I can contribute this way, I expect other leaders to do the same. Our people deserve this level of commitment.”
To enhance their mobility, Gagdi also pledged to distribute 61 brand new motorcycles, each worth N1.6 million, to the senior aides and liaison officers. However, the beneficiaries must sign undertakings confirming the bikes will be used strictly for constituency-related assignments.
“This is about building a lasting structure. It is not just politics; it’s service and I believe that with this team on ground, our constituency will not only feel my presence but also see tangible results.” Gagdi emphasized.
