Bello Matawalle, Zamfara Governor, Defects To APC

30 Jun Bello Matawalle, Zamfara Governor, Defects To APC

Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, formally defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday.

Speaking at the rally in Gusau, the state capital, he said he had been nursing the ambition of leaving  the PDP for several reasons.

“I am now the leader of APC in Zamfara State and I am ready to work with each and every one wishing to contribute to the rapid development of the state,” he said.

The National Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, congratulated Matawalle for defecting to the party.

Buni said, based on the provision of the APC, Governor Matawalle was now the leader of APC in Zamfara State

He also announced that the APC State Caretaker Committee has been dissolved.

On his part, former Governor of the state, Abdul Aziz Yari welcomed Governor Bello Matawalle to APC, adding that he was ready to give all necessary support and cooperation for Matawalle to succeed.

In a message delivered on his behalf at the defection ceremony by the SGF, Mustapha, President Buhari said: “I’m proud of your timely and wise decision to join the governing party and our doors are wide open to other politicians who believe in our vision to rebuild Nigeria.

“Your voluntary decision to join our party confirms the fact that our agenda for good governance is the only reason why Nigerians are getting attracted to the APC because the other alternative didn’t work.”

The President used the forum to urge APC Governors and elected lawmakers across the country to continue to work harder to ensure the party maintains its popularity and retains power beyond 2023.

He reminded all elected party officials of the fact that “your performance at all levels will impact significantly on the fortunes of the party”, adding that “party leaders should avoid complacency at all times in order to build the APC from strength to strength.”

Matawalle joined the APC with all members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly members except a representative from Anka/Talata-Mafara Federal Constituency and the deputy governor, who remains in the PDP.

The 2 pm rally which did not start until after 6.30 pm, was attended by governors of Kogi, Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Borno, Ogun, Jigawa, Plateau, and Kebbi State; Secretary to the Government of Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha; and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs among others.

Reacting to the defection, President Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, congratulated Matawalle on his defection from the PDP to the APC, saying the ruling party “is becoming more popular because of its impressive performance record and commitment to good governance.”

The National Chairman of the PDP Uche Secondus said yesterday that despite the defections, the party is confident of winning 2023 general election, despite the defection of some of its governors to the APC.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Secondus also accused the APC governors who gathered in Gusau, Zamfara State to celebrate the defection of Matawalle, of celebrating bloodshed of innocent Nigerians that died in the insurgency in the state.

Secondus said clearly that the party will challenge the defection of Matawalle in court as there is no provision of independent candidate in the electoral laws.