Six members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing deep internal crises within the PDP and what they described as poor governance in the state.
The lawmakers announced their decision on Thursday through separate letters addressed to the Speaker of the House.
Those who defected are Bashar Aliyu Gummi (Gummi I), Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Bashir Bello (Bungudu West), Amiru Ahmad Keta (Tsafe West), and Muktar Nasir Kaura (Kaura North).
In their letters, titled “Notice of Resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC)”, the lawmakers said persistent crises within the PDP forced their decision.
They said the crises had resulted in factional leadership within the party.
One of the letters read: “I write to formally inform the Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members of this Honourable House of my decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to lingering and unresolved crises in my party, which have resulted in factional leadership.”
The lawmakers said their defection was in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
They cited Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which allows a lawmaker to defect if there is a division within their political party.
They also accused the PDP-led government in Zamfara State, under Governor Dauda Lawal, of poor leadership.
According to them, the administration has failed to adequately address insecurity in the state and has not fulfilled its campaign promises.
Another part of the letters read: “My decision is in line with Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and is also based on the poor leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal, particularly his failure to address security challenges and fulfil campaign promises.”
