By Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Kebbi state governorship, and deputy governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Atiku Mai-Ahu and Barrister Nafi’u Abubakar, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, the party’s three senatorial candidates, the House of Representatives candidates, except one; and the State House of Assembly candidates, have tendered their resignation and joined the APC.
Similarly, the state, local government, and ward executives members of the party have resigned from the SDP and joined the APC.
Mai-Ahu, Abubakar and other decampees, presented their letters of withdrawal from the SDP to the State Chairman of the APC, Abubakar Kana Zuru, who formally received them at the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, office, in Birnin Kebbi, on Tuesday.
Mai-Ahu informed the APC stakeholders at the event, in the presence of the state governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, that their decision to join the APC was based on their conviction that the APC remained the only political party that is capable of leading Nigeria to greatness.
He pledged that the new members would be actively involved in traversing the nooks and crannies of Kebbi state to mobilize people to vote for the APC in this year’s elections.
“The SDP members who joined the APC include those at state, local government and ward levels as well as women and youth groups throughout Kebbi state.”
Receiving the decampees, the State APC Chairman, Zuru thanked them for making the right decision to join the ruling party, assuring that they will enjoy equal rights and privileges like any other APC member.
He directed the APC executive members at state, local government and ward levels to involve the decampees in the affairs of the party as active stakeholders.
Welcoming the new entrants, Kebbi state governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Nasir Idris, described the former SDP gubernatorial candidate, Mai-Ahu as his younger brother, promising to treat them justly with compassion.
Dr. Idris said their decision to defect to the APC was the right course of action because the APC has become the preferred party of the people of Kebbi state.
In the same vein, the State Director-General, DG APC Campaign Council, who is former governor, Sa’idu Usman Nasamu Dakingari thanked the new members for identifying with the ideals of the APC as the largest party in Africa with the basic foundation of justice.
Dakingari urged them to go back home to work for the victory of the APC at the polls by soliciting for the votes of the electorate during the elections.
In his remark, Governor Bagudu commended the former SDP members for their patriotism to join the APC.
He explained that being together under a single political destination was the best option for the benefit of the people of Kebbi state, adding that their decision to defect to the APC was an act of patriotism and courage.
The governor thanked the leader of the decampees and former SDP governorship candidate, Mai-Ahu as well as commended Babangida Mai-Ahu, Ibrahim Bagudu, Faruq Enabo, Faruq Kuru, Kabiru Giant and Abubakar Gari Malam for their untiring efforts in championing the cause of the APC.
Bagudu also gave special commendation to the Director-General, APC Campaign Council, Dakingari for his humility to lead the APC campaign team to success.
