By John Ikani
Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at a grand rally on Tuesday at the Trade Fair Complex Gusau, Matawalle said that he had been nursing the ambition of leaving the Peoples Democratic Party for several reasons.
Matawalle, who was presented with the APC flag by Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe and chairman of the APC caretaker committee, expressed delight on being received into the party, called for cooperation among stakeholders to develop the state.
He said, “As from today, I have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the All Progressive Congress.
“I’m now the leader of APC in Zamfara State and I am ready to work with each and everyone wishing to contribute to the rapid development of the state”.
Speaking at the rally, Buni declared the Zamfara governor as the new leader of the party in the state.
He said, “As from today, Governor Bello Matawalle is the leader of the APC in Zamfara State.
“I also want to bring to your notice that as from today, the APC Caretaker committees of Zamfara State from the ward to the state level have been dissolved.”
Present at the rally alongside other APC stakeholders included Nasir el-Rufai, Yahaya Bello, and Abdullahi Ganduje — governors of Kaduna, Kogi and Kano, respectively.
Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, on his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the ruling party “is becoming more popular because of its impressive performance record and commitment to good governance.”
In a message delivered on his behalf by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) at the defection ceremony in Gusau on Tuesday, President Buhari urged 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.”
