June 28, (THEWILL) – The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, will join David Umahi of Ebonyi and Ben Ayade of Cross River, to formally dump the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC), in an event specially organised for him on Tuesday.
Six governors of the PDP had in April visited Matawalle to dissuade him from exiting the ruling party.
THEWILL gathered that the Governor will be defecting to the APC along with the states and the National Assembly members except a member representing Anka Mafara Federal Constituency, Honourable Kabiru Mafara.
The Deputy Governor, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, and few officials of the PDP might remain with the PDP.
The grand rally has been planned for the Trade Fair Complex in Gusau, the state capital by 10am.
At least 18 governors of the APC including party officials from the state and the national levels are expected to receive Matawalle on Tuesday.
The Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of the Organising Ceremony and Zamfara Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, told newsmen on Monday that, “The Progressive governors will be led by the APC Chairman Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Governor Mai Mala-Buni.”
Dosara further said: “We are also expecting all our National Assembly members as well as state legislators to declare their defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC during the occasion.
“Similarly, all the 14 local government caretaker committee chairmen who just finished their tenure, council members and teeming supporters will join the hundreds of thousands of the Matawalle loyalists, friends and supporters in our movement to our new party, the APC.’’
According to him, the event which is considered a historic one in the stat,e will further unite politicians and strengthen the APC in the state.
On his part, Mohammed Mamman, the Director-General, Press Affairs, to the Mala-Buni said the Governor had been able to convince three governors to defect to the APC.
He said: ”With Matawalle joining the APC, it means Mala-Buni, as the Chairman of the Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, has been able to convince three governors into the party.
“They are Dave Umuahi of Ebonyi, Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River. This is also a confirmation that the APC is doing well both at the national and state levels under the purposeful, focused and people oriented leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
THEWILL reports that the Personal Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, Bashir Ahmed, had disclosed on his verified Facebook page, on Sunday morning that Governor Bello Matawalle has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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