A lawmaker representing Billiri East Constituency in the Gombe State House of Assembly, Yakubu Daniel (Shetiman Bare), has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection further strengthened the dominance of the ruling APC in the state legislature, as Daniel was the last remaining PDP lawmaker in the Gombe State House of Assembly.
Daniel formally announced his defection on Saturday at the Government House in Gombe, where he was received by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
He was accompanied by the Speaker of the State Assembly and other lawmakers during the visit.
Explaining the reason behind his decision, Daniel said his move followed a series of earlier defections by opposition lawmakers, including members of the minority leadership who had previously crossed over to the APC.
He also attributed his decision to what he described as the people-centred leadership style of Governor Yahaya, which he said has continued to attract support across political divides.
Governor Yahaya welcomed the development, describing the defection as a clear sign of growing confidence in the APC-led administration in Gombe State.
“This is a strong vote of confidence in our leadership, our policies and our inclusive style of governance. For the last remaining opposition member in the Assembly to take this step speaks volumes about the direction we are taking in Gombe State,” the governor said.
He noted that the increasing support for the party was a reflection of public trust in the administration’s policies and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu at the national level.
“The overwhelming support we are witnessing is not by chance. It is a product of the trust the people have in what we are doing here in Gombe, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu at the national level,” Yahaya added.
The governor also reiterated that the APC remains a broad and inclusive platform committed to unity, development, justice and good governance.
Daniel, on his part, pledged loyalty to the APC and promised to work towards strengthening the party’s presence while also supporting its growth and consolidation across the state.
