From Maiharaji Altine Gusau
Eight Zamfara state House of Assembly aspirants under the platform of the People’s Democratic party (PDP) have defected to the ruling APC in the state.
The decampees announced their defection on Tuesday while submitting their certificates of clearance to Governor Bello Matawalle.
The defectors were presented to the Governor by the state APC Chairman, Tukur Umar Danfulani at the Government House, Gusau
The decampees said their decision to join the APC was informed by the focused and visionary leadership style of Governor Matawalle in tackling insecurity and bringing economic transformation.
The leader of the decampees, Murtala Mainasara said that PDP in Zamfara state has lost focus, political direction and lacked good political will to take Zamfara State to a more development position that can be considered better than governor Matawalle’s.
He said, “PDP is only promoting hatred among the citizens of the state through instigation of political violence and using the children of the innocent poor citizens to perpetrate such acts”.
Murtala further said that those in PDP were expired politicians that could not initiate any development in the state.
The eight state Assembly aspirant defectors included Kasimu Jafaru of Zurmi West, Rukkayya Abdullahi from Zurmi East and Ishaha Ibrahim Labbo from Anka State Assembly Constituency.
Others were Abubakar Abdulaziz aspirant of Tsafe West, Bala Ibrahim and Jamilu Bawa aspirants from Birnin Magaji State Assembly Constituency, Ibrahim Surajo from Zurmi West as well as the leader of the defectors, Murtala Mainasara Shinkafi from Shinkafi state Assembly Constituency.
In their separate speeches they described the PDP governorship candidate in the state as a political amateur who didn’t know his left from right but was only waiting for people to refer to him as ‘Excellency.’
They commended Governor Matawalle’s efforts in addressing security issues especially in the senatorial district of Zamfara North comparing it with how it was before, noting that the area has recorded significant improvement.
They observed that any reasonable person from the zone must support Governor Matawalle and vote him in the forthcoming general elections.
Welcoming the decampees into the fold of the Progressives, Governor Matawalle said APC is a party for all reasonable and patriotic Nigerias which focuses on development.
He commended their wise decision to join the Progressives who have settled to unite Nigeria and bring economic growth and development to the door steps of every citizen
Governor Matawalle said he was not surprised over their decision considering their level of exposure and determination to bring development to the door steps of the electorate.
Earlier while presenting the decampees before the Governor, the state chairman of the party, Hon. Tukur Umar Danfulani informed the Governor that in the next few days a lot of PDP supporters would join APC as discussions have been concluded and waiting for the party to fix the date for their formal reception into the Progressives Party.
He assured that before the general elections, PDP in Zamfara was going to be an empty pack sinking into hot water adding the PDP protracted crises will soon bury the party.
The event was attended by the APC Secretary, Hon. Ibrahim Umar Dangaladima, Speaker Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon Nasiru Maazu Magarya.
Others in attendance were the secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, APC Welfare Secretary, Bashir Idris Ataka, Zonal Vice-chairman Central, Alh Amadu Saidu Maiaya Tsafe,Youth leader, Hon. Musa Idris Ardo, Commissioners, Special Advisers and many party supporters.
