Mixed reactions over Matawalle’s rumoured defection in Zamfara APC

Sources within the Zamfara State chapter of the the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the rumoured defection of governor Bello Matawalle from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is unsettling the party.

According to them, Matawalle’s quest to get a second term in office, in 2023 is the major reason behind the governor’s move to the APC.

“The governor’s political godfather remains a former two/term governor of the state and strongly supported him behind the scenes, he (the governor) has been told that there’s no guarantee of a second term if he remains in the PDP,” a source who pleaded anonymous said.

“Zamfara has always aligned politically with the party at the Centre and he was told in clear terms that for him to run and get a second term, he has to defect to the APC.

“He was told, sometime last year that the best bet for him was ‘to return home and get the ticket to run for 2023.’”

However, another source said the local chapter of the party has been sidelined in the rumoured defection.

“Of a truth, the governor was formerly with us before he moved to the PDP but with the reconciliation moves initiated by the national leadership, it would have been better to have carried Zamfara APC along in the discussions,” the source said.

“Now that we have peace, why are they doing to us, who stayed behind; even though some of us lost the golden opportunity we had in 2019?”

But the PDP and Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike has vowed to appeal to the governor not to move to the APC.

“A party that declared Zamfara a no-fly zone is coming to ask the governor to join them. I don’t just understand how they think things can work like that,” Wike said during PDP governor’s condolence visit to Matawalle.

“As a party, we have always stood with the governor but I can assure you that our governors are on the matter; as we speak.”