The opposition parties in Kaduna State suffered a major blow as key figures from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kawo Ward, Kaduna North Local Government Area, and about 300 members defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at a reception for the new APC members, Dr. Jamilu Haruna, a Permanent Member of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), said the move signaled widespread approval of Governor Uba Sani’s performance.
According to him, “this defection is not a surprise to us because all the genuine members of the opposition have seen the giant strides of Governor Uba Sani in security improvements, educational development, food security and overall wellbeing of the citizens.
“These achievements have stood our Governor out even among his colleagues and endeared him to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is a clear indication that Kaduna stands to benefit more from the Federal Government for the overall benefit of the citizens,” he said.
Dr. Haruna added that the new members would be treated with respect and given equal opportunities within the party. He also appreciated the support of the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Sani Liman Kila, for the success of the event.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the Governor, the APC Chairman in Kaduna North, Alhaji Suleiman Wada Usman, described their decision as courageous and patriotic.
He assured them of fair and equal treatment, saying, “they would not be treated as second-class citizens in the party.”
Leader of the defectors and former PDP senatorial aspirant for Kaduna Central, Prof. Usman Muhammad, said he and his followers left the PDP because of the inclusive leadership of Governor Uba Sani.
He said, “the PDP had made me and other chieftains redundant despite our level of education and experiences, just as the party had also deeply into crisis before expectation.”
Prof. Muhammad, a professor of Political Science and expert in International Relations, expressed hope that the APC would justify their decision to join and called on Governor Sani to bring more developmental projects to Kawo.
Among the notable defectors were former PDP State Legal Adviser aspirant, Barr. Aliyu Suleiman; PDP Kawo Ward Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Mati Salihu; former State Assembly aspirant, Hon. Idris Badamasi Shuaibu; PDP Youth Leader in Kawo, Tasiu Aliyu; and NNPP Kawo Ward Chairman, Comrade Aminu Tanko Musa.
