‘How Matawalle, Yari are shrinking PDP for APC in Zamfara’

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has attributed defection of members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP into its fold in Zamfara State to efforts of Dr Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence and Sen. Abdulaziz Yari.

According to the APC, Matawalle and Yari supports to party loyalists across the state have continued to inspire politicians from the ruling PDP in Zamfara into APC in the state.

The Zamfara chapter of APC said this while commending the Senator and the Minister for defection of PDP members to PDP in the state.

The APC chapter, in a statement by Alhaji Yusuf Idris, its Publicity Secretary on Tuesday in Gusau said the motivation from the duo of Matawalle and Yari has continued to attract top politicians from other parties into the APC in the state.

The statement was issued following defection of Hon. Maharazu Faru of the PDP representing Maradun II State House of Assembly Constituency and other chieftains of the party to the APC in the state.

“The ceremony, which held amidst a large crowd at the APC Secretariat in Gusau, was chaired by the Chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Tukur Danfulani.

“Also joining were all the five Ward Chairmen of Faru/Magami Ward ,Hon. Ahmad Lawal (Sarkin Samari), Gidan Goga Ward, Hon. Sanusi Ahmad Liman, Tsibiri Ward and Hon. Lawal Mohammed, Kaya Ward.

“Others were Shingi Dan- Abu, Janbako and the ex-officio, Alhaji Salisu Dodo Faru, along with hundreds of their supporters from the constituency,” Idris said.

He quoted Faru as saying that his decision to dump his former party, PDP and join the opposition APC among others was Gov. Dauda Lawal’s failure to address all the campaign promises he made.

He said that they ranged from insecurity, which is the main reason people voted for him, adding, ” but now, he shows no concern to the plight of his constituents.”

Faru further said that his constituency was not recognised or given any attention, and at the same time, the government failed to treat PDP members of his constituency with justice and fairness.

“Hon. Fatu explained that his constituents were totally sidelined by the Lawal government by failing to meet the expectations of his supporters as expected through genuine change. Unfortunately, things are going from bad to worse.

“There is no fairness in Dauda’s administration as only favoured PDP members and members of his cabal are reaping the dividend of democracy.

“For these reasons, I decided to join Matawalle and Abdulaziz Yari, and together with all the party executives in my constituency as well as my supporters,” Idris said.

According to him, Faru further lamented that the PDP was now characterised by crises at all levels, which explained why many Governors elected on its platform were exiting to the APC alongside multitudes of their supporters.

Idris also quoted a PDP ex-officio in Maradun Local Government, Alhaji Salisu Dodo as saying: ”PDP is dead in Maradun 2 Constituency.

*Dauda is an accidental politician that lacks direction, querying, how can a government abandon those who campaigned day and night without any concerns.

“Many PDP chieftains will join the APC in the days to come.”

The spokesman said that Dodo commended Matawalle for keeping in touch with the grassroots, which clearly showed how APC and its leaders, Yari and others were taking care of their party members.

He added, “By 2027, PDP is going to be a walkover because of the party’s immature politics.”

Speaking on behalf of the five PDP ward chairmen, Ahmad Lawal, said they decided to join Faru into APC as he was their most responsive leader and the only one taking care of the party in Maradun II constituency.

Receiving the members, the APC chairman said the party has continued to receive reputable and distinguished personalities even though it was not the ruling party in the state.

Danfulani said that more people were having more confidence in APC at the national level and in its exemplary leadership in the state.

He attributed the success of the party in the state to the efforts of its leaders especially Matawalle and Yari for their drive in sustaining an unmatched unity and welfare of the members throughout the state.

The chairman thanked the duo and all the other leaders of the party for ensuring the oneness of the APC, adding that it was an indication that APC would make an unchallenged comeback in 2027.

Danfulani also assured all the new entrants that they would be treated equally with other members.

Other personalities at the occasion included former APC State Chairman Hon. Lawal M. Liman, State Secretary of the party, Hon. Ibrahim Dangaladima, Hon. Kamilu
Sa’idu l, member representing Kaura Namoda South and Alhaji Bashir Ataka, Welfare Secretary.

Others included Mallam Yusuf Idris, Publicity Secretary, former Secretary to the Zamfara Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, Alhaji Babangida Turnuku and a former Gusau Local Government Chairman, Babangida Abdullahi, among others.”

(NAN)