Ex-Gov Yari, Marafa, Sulaiman dump APC for PDP

Former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, Sen. Kabiru Marafa and Bauchi State House of Assembly Speaker, Abubakar Sulaiman, have dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Marafa represented Zamfara Central in the 7th and 8th Senate from 2011 to 2019. Chairman of Zamfara PDP, Col. Bala Mande (rtd), announced the defection of Yari and Marafa after a stakeholders’ meeting in Gusau, yesterday.

Mande said they had sat down and finalised the issue of the defection of the duo and agreed to work for the development of the party.

“We have all agreed to work for the development of PDP in the state; hence we welcome them to its fold. We will ensure justice and fairness to all members, even after winning the elections in 2023. The date for their grand reception to our party will be announced later, but we are going to implement all the agreements reached during the stakeholders’ meeting,” Mande said.

The Publicity Secretary of Yari faction of APC, Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji, confirmed the development to newsmen, but did not give details.

“Yes, it is true; we are moving to opposition PDP, and this is all I can say for now,” Magaji said. Yari and Marafa lost control of Zamfara APC after Governor Bello Matawalle defected to the party last year and told those who would not recognise him as Zamfara APC leader to leave.

IN the same vein, Sulaiman announced his defection during the breaking of fast on Saturday night at the Government House, Bauchi, with Governor Bala Mohammed and PDP stakeholders from Ningi, Toro, Warji and Dass local councils of the state.

Sulaiman emerged Speaker of the Assembly during a controversial election on June 21, 2019, on the floor of the Assembly by 11 of the 31 lawmakers.

At the inauguration of the 9th Assembly, PDP had eight members, APC 22 and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) one. The development created a factional Speaker, who, after 16 months, submitted to the leadership of Sulaiman.

About three years after his emergence, Sulaiman, who said his decision to return to the PDP was as a result of his good understanding and working relationship with the governor, promised to work with him for the best interest of the state.

“I use this opportunity today to officially announce to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and other stakeholders in the PDP of my formal defection to the ruling party in the state.

“One of my reasons to return to PDP is in recognition of the exemplary leadership style of our governor and his commitment to transforming the state,” he said.

With the latest defection, APC has 16 members while PDP has 15. The Guardian gathered that another member of the APC is expected to follow the Speaker, while the Majority Leader, Tijjani Aliyu, has been consulting to leave the APC, according to a reliable source.