By: Manoah Kikekon
Zamfara, Nigeria – In a significant political realignment, Deputy Defence Minister Bello Matawalle has officially welcomed a powerful bloc of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders into the folds of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State.
The defection, which signals a strengthening of the APC's grip in the state, was confirmed in an official statement on Wednesday by the Zamfara State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris.
According to the statement, the political move saw no fewer than 15 high-ranking leaders from the Zamfara chapter of the PDP cross over to the ruling APC. The ceremony, presided over by Minister Matawalle, marks one of the most notable defections in the state's recent political history.
The event underscores the ongoing internal re-strategizing within the political parties ahead of future elections, with the APC appearing to gain significant momentum.
While receiving the defectors, Minister Bello Matawalle lauded their decision as both "bold and timely." He emphasized that their move to the APC was a strategic alignment with the party's widespread popularity and acceptance across Zamfara and Nigeria.
In a move aimed at fostering party unity, Matawalle assured the new members of equal treatment and opportunities within the APC, stating that there would be no discrimination between old and new members.
"The minister assured them of equal treatment and opportunities with all other party members," the statement from Idris read.
Minister Matawalle also took the opportunity to commend the state leadership of the APC for its effective grassroots mobilization and widespread consultation. He attributed the party's growing appeal to these relentless efforts, which have made the APC "more acceptable and popular in all the nooks and crannies of the state."
The Minister concluded by expressing confidence that the APC would continue to grow "united and stronger," bolstered by its current strategic outreach and the delivery of welfare packages to the people of Zamfara.
This mass defection is poised to reshape the political dynamics in Zamfara, potentially consolidating the APC's base while presenting a fresh challenge for the opposition PDP to regroup and reassess its strategy in the state.