Six members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal party crises, factional leadership and alleged poor governance in the state.
The lawmakers formally announced their defection in separate but similarly worded letters addressed to the Speaker of the House and sighted by LEADERSHIP on Thursday.
The defectors are Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi (Gummi I Constituency), Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), Barr. Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Hon. Bashir Bello (Bungudu West), Hon. Amiru Ahmad Keta (Tsafe West), and Hon. Muktar Nasir Kaura (Kaura North).
In the letters titled “Notice of Resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, the lawmakers said their decision was informed by “lingering and unresolved crises” within the PDP, which they said had resulted in factional leadership at various levels of the party.
“I write to formally inform the Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members of this Honourable House of my decision of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) due to lingering and unresolved crises of my party (PDP) which resulted to factional leadership,” one of the letters read.
The lawmakers said their action was in line with the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which allows lawmakers to defect in the event of a division in their party.
They also accused the PDP-led administration in the state, under Governor Dauda Lawal, of poor leadership, alleging negligence in addressing the security challenges facing Zamfara State and failure to fulfil campaign promises.
“Therefore, my decision is consonant and pursuant to Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), and poor leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal ranging from negligence in the security of the state and unfulfilled promises made as his campaign manifestos,” the letters stated.
