Buhari expresses joy over Gov. Matawalle’s defection to APC
Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Matawalle announced his defection to APC in Gusau on Tuesday at a special grand rally to receive him to the party, organised by the National Caretaker Committee of the APC led by Gov. Maimala Buni of Yobe.
“As from today, I Bello Matawallen Maradun, governor of Zamfara, I am happy to announce my defection from the PDP to the APC.
“As from today, I am a full APC member and leader of APC in Zamfara.
“I am calling on all APC stakeholders in the state to join hands with me to build the party and move the state forward,” Matawalle said.
Earlier, Buni had described Matawalle’s defection as a welcome development to the APC not only in Zamfara but in Nigeria in general.
“I am happy to announce that APC has received Matawalle, three Senators, six House of Reps members and 24 members of the state house of assembly who defected from the PDP to the APC.”
Buni said, “As we all know, according to the party’s constitution, President Muhammad Buhari is our leader at national level and in each state the sitting governor from the party is the APC leader in that state.
“Therefore Matawalle is the new leader of the party in Zamfara.
“With this development, all the party executives, state, local governments and wards level are hereby dissolved,” he added.
In his remarks, the former governor of the state, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari described Matawalle’s defection as a timely and welcome development.
Yari promised to support Matawalle to continue building the party as well as tackle insecurity challenges facing the state. He declared his support and commitment to work for the success of the party just as he prayed for God to prevent any evil from crossing their path in the party again.
In attendance were the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, 10 Governors; Kano, kaduna, Kebbi, Borno, Kogi, Niger, Yobe, Ogun, Katsina, Jigawa and Plateau states as well as two serving ministers.
Also in attendance was the first Civilian Governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmad Sani ( Yariman Bakura).
In the meantime, President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Gov. Matawalle on his defection from PDP to the APC.
According to the President, the ruling party is becoming more popular because of its impressive record and commitment to good governance.
A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, said Buhari stated this in a message delivered on his behalf by Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), at the defection ceremony in Gusau on Tuesday.
He said, “I’m proud of your timely and wise decision to join the governing party and our doors are wide open to other politicians who believe in our vision to rebuild Nigeria.
“Your voluntary decision to join our party confirms the fact that our agenda for good governance is the only reason why Nigerians are getting attracted to the APC because the other alternative didn’t work.”
The president however urged APC governors and elected lawmakers across the country “to continue to work harder to ensure our party maintains its popularity and retains power beyond 2023.”
He reminded all elected party officials of the fact that “your performance at all levels will impact significantly on the fortunes of the party.”
He added that “party leaders should avoid complacency at all times in order to build the APC from strength to strength.”
