Voting Atiku a big mistake – Yobe PDP defectors

More than 1,500 officials and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying they regretted voting for PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the February 23, 2019 election.

The defectors announced their decision on Tuesday during an APC governorship campaign rally in Fika, headquarters of Fika Local Government Area.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Ahmadu Usman said they regretted remaining in the PDP and supporting Atiku during the presidential election.

In a related development, 17 PDP officials at the state and local government levels, along with their supporters from Machina and Yusufari Local Government Areas, also defected to the APC.

The group was led by PDP Vice-Chairman for Zone C, Muazu Isa, who formally pledged support for the APC governorship candidate, Mai Mala Buni, in Damaturu.

Among those who defected were the PDP State Financial Secretary, Sani Riga; Kaumi Kaderi and Damiji Kalgiri, who served as party chairmen in Yusufari and Machina Local Government Areas; as well as other local party officials.

The defectors also included Ali Kakandi, Hajiya Kori Modu and several ward-level officials in Yusufari Local Government Area.

Isa said the group had decided not to repeat what he described as the mistake of supporting the PDP in the presidential election.

“We want to apologise for the mistake of being in the PDP and voting for the party. We will not carry that mistake into the governorship election,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the defectors would work to secure a landslide victory for the APC and Buni in the governorship election.

Receiving the new members, Buni assured them that they would enjoy equal rights and opportunities within the APC.

“From now on, you are equal members of the party with those who joined before you,” he said, urging them to work for the unity and success of the party.

Buni also promised to address the longstanding water challenges facing residents of Fika Local Government Area if elected governor.

He further pledged to construct road networks linking Gujba to Ngalda and Fika-Maluri-Daura in order to improve transportation and open up agricultural communities.

The defections followed an earlier move by Yobe PDP Chairman Inuwa Nguru and other party officials, who had also left the opposition party for the APC.