Matawalle dumps PDP; Replaces Yari as Zamfara APC leader; Buhari welcomes defector

By Ishaq Zaki/ Abubakar Ahmed

Gusau, June 29, 2021

Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Matawalle announced his defection to APC in Gusau on Tuesday at a special grand rally to receive him to the party, organised by the National Caretaker Committee of the APC led by Gov. Maimala Buni of Yobe.

President Muhammadu Buhari, at the event, congratulated Matawalle on his defection, saying that the ruling party “is becoming more popular because of its impressive performance record and commitment to good governance.”

In his message delivered by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) at the defection ceremony, 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 occasion to urge APC Governors and elected lawmakers across the country “to continue to work harder to ensure our 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.”

The National Chairman of APC Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni at the occasion, named Gov. Matawalle the new APC leader in the state, in line with the party’s constitution.

Buni made the announcement while handing over the party’s flag to Gov. Matawalle who was received into the APC at the rally in Gusau.

Before Matawalle’s defection, former governor Abdulaziz Yari was the party’s leader in the state.

“This is as provided by our party’s constitution and so l am mandated to inform you that as from today, Gov. Bello Matawalle is the leader of the APC in the state.

“Similarly, all leadership structures of the party in the state have been dissolved while the new party leader and governor of the state will announce new leadership of the party at all levels,” he stated.

While declaring his defection, the governor had said: “As from today, I Bello Matawallen Maradun, governor of Zamfara, I am happy to announce my defection from the PDP to the APC.

“As from today, I am a full APC member and leader of APC in Zamfara.

“I am calling on all APC stakeholders in the state to join hands with me to build the party and move the state forward.”

Earlier, Buni had described Matawalle’s defection as a welcome development to the APC not only in Zamfara but in Nigeria in general.

“I am happy to announce that APC has received Matawalle, three Senators, six House of Reps members and 24 members of the state house of assembly who defected from the PDP to the APC.”

Buni said: “as we all know, according to the party’s constitution, President Muhammad Buhari is our leader at national level and in each state the sitting governor from the party is the APC leader in that state.”

In his remarks, the former governor of the state, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari described Matawalle’s defection as a timely and welcome development.

Yari promised to support Matawalle to continue building the party as well as tackle insecurity challenges facing the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 11 APC governors, ministers, senators and house of reps members attended the occasion.

The event was also attended by former governors Ahmed Yarima, Mamuda Shinkafi and Yari as well as by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, Ministers of Environment and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Muhammad Mahmoud and Sadiya Umar-Faruk, as well as the President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu.