By Ishaq Zaki
The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the defection of the six Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members into the party as a welcome development.
The State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, in a statement issued in Gusau on Friday, further described the lawmakers’ decision was a good omen to the APC.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the six serving members of the Zamfara House of Assembly on the platform of the PDP had announced their defection to the APC in a separate letters presented to the party’s leadership.
The six defecting lawmakers were members of the parallel state house of assembly who were suspended by the house last year over alleged violation of the Nigerian Constitution and state assembly’s laws.
The six lawmakers jointly made their decision known while sitting in Gusau, the state capital after deliberating over the alleged poor management of the legislative arm.
They claimed that it had since compromised its duties by serving as an extension of the Governor’s Office and a rubber stamp to Gov. Dauda Lawal.
The defecting lawmakers included the factional Speaker, Bashar Aliyu, Gummi 1, Nasiru Abdullahi, Maru North and Bashir Abubakar, Bukkuyum North.
Others included Bashir Bello, Bungudu West, Amiru Ahmad-Keta, Tsafe West)
and Muktar Nasir-Kaura, Kaura North.
They urged the National Assembly to investigate their case and take the right steps towards ensuring that order and rule of law were fully adhered to in the state legislature.
On their decision to join the opposition APC in the state, the lawmakers cited justice, fair play, harmony and inclusiveness as the attraction that drew them to the APC.
According to them, this is to enable them to return to the APC so as to work for the growth and development of the state as well as rhe welfare of their constituents.
Idris said, “The state APC leadership wishes to formally congratulate everyone of us for joining the progressives in the country that is the APC.
“May the decision be the beginning of success and development of our dear state and Nigeria at large.
“The party considers the lawmakers’ decision as a wise one that will promote political stability of our dear nation into a more prosperous one.
“The lawmakers’ collective decision to dump the PDP and join the APC marks a new political era in Zamfara where members of the rulling party defect to the opposition which had changed the tradition.”
All attempts by a NAN Correspondent to speak with the leadership of the state house of assembly and state chapter of the PDP proved abortive.(NAN)