The erratic power supply in Nigeria has forced many artisans and businessmen to resort to Okada riding, the Kwara Artisans Congress said.

A member of the executive, Alhaji Yusuf Morocco, said many industries which had collapsed would bounce back with adequate power supply. He maintained that no artisan could survive in an environment with poor electricity supply.

"That is why many of the artisans in the state have become motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders", he said.

He spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State, when executives of the congress met with the state All Progressives Congress (APC) leader and former governor, Bukola Saraki.

The artisans under the chairmanship of Alhaji Abdullahi Lanky met Saraki at his Iloffa GRA residence to pledge their support for APC ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Morocco however noted that the population of artisans riding Okada has reduced following the intervention of the state government. He said the state government's loan scheme to artisans had helped many of them to acquire generating sets and other equipment they need for their vocation.

Chairman of the congress who pledged that all artisans in the state would vote for the APC, said they had all obtained their Permanent Voters' Cards.

He advised the APC leadership against using and dumping them, saying while they would work for the APC government, it should reciprocate the gesture by continued empowerment of their members and employment of qualified ones among them.

Saraki in his response said the endorsement by artisans was an indication of the achievements of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. He promised the group of government's support.

"We've held so many elections and the number of endorsements that we are getting this time around are even more than what we got in 2011. The rate of people decamping to join our party is unprecedented. I am sure of landslide victory in the March 28 and April 11 elections."