News from Niger State
Tidal waves hit Niger PDP as ex-Rep, Assembly Member, 200 others defect to APC
***Commend Gov. Bago’s landmark achievements
Hundreds of People Democratic party (PDP) members from Guni ward in Munya local government area of Niger State on Saturday defied the security challenges bedevilling the area as they trooped out in their hundreds to be received into the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.
The defectors numbering over 200 included Munya local government PDP Chairman, popularly called Osama, ward party executives from Gumi were led by the former member of the House of Representatives for Munya/Shiroro/Rafi federal constituency Hon. Abdullahi Mohammed Ricco.
Also among the defectors were the former member of the state House of Assembly, Hon John Bahago and his supporters.
The defectors were all received by the state commissioner for land and survey, Barrister Maurice Bello Magaji, accompanied by some of the local government party Chieftains.
The latest mass defection from the PDP in the state to the APC is coming barely three weeks after about 150 members of the party, including women and youths dumped the main opposition party to switch their allegiance to the ruling party in Gulu Vatsa community in Lapai local government area of the state.
While receiving the defectors on Saturday at Guni, the commissioner, Barrister Maurice Magaji commended them for taking what he called “wise decision” to join the ruling party in the state, assuring them that the APC administration under the leadership of governor Umaru Mohammed Bago is poised to actualizethe “New Niger agenda”
He told the decampees that in the last one year in the office, the governor has demonstrated capacity and geninue leadership with his infrastructure development and agricultural revolution, stressing that “with over 500 roads both federal, state and local under construction, the governor is at verge rewriting the wrongs of many years.
“That is why we are calling on others to come and join hands together with us to build a better Niger. There is nothing wrong if all the opposition parties in the state decide to adopt the governor as the sole candidate for 2027 election, at least to finish the good work he has started”.
He promised to carry them along in all the policies and programmes of the government even as he solicited for their loyalty to the party and the Government.
Earlier the spokesperson for the defectors and former member House of Representatives, Hon. Ricco said the developmental strides of the governor and that of Hon Commissioner made them join the APC with their supporters.
He explained further that they are convinced that the governor has a geninue intention towards transforming the state with his new Niger agenda, adding “what he needs is the support and prayers of all sons and daughters of the state”.