Several chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State have left the party and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defectors, led by the immediate past PDP Vice Chairman for Nasarawa North, Shemmy Mashi, were received by Governor Abdullahi Sule at the Government House on Tuesday.
Mashi said he had been a member of the PDP since 1999 but decided to leave the party with his supporters because of what they described as the leadership and development projects of Governor Sule’s administration.
Among those who joined him were former PDP youth leader Yahaya Jobe, former party elder from Karu, Akuson Philip, and former woman leader, Christiana Ondah.
Speaking during the visit, Mashi said the group represented only a small number of PDP members and supporters who had decided to join the APC.
He thanked Governor Sule for receiving them and pledged the support of the defectors and their followers to the governor’s administration.
Mashi said his decision to leave the PDP was based on his assessment of the leadership and development efforts of the Sule administration.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Kwanta Yakubu, introduced the delegation and described the defection as part of a growing trend of politicians joining the APC.
Yakubu said the governor’s infrastructure projects and style of governance had continued to attract members of other political parties.
According to him, the increasing support shows that the administration’s policies and projects are gaining acceptance across political parties in the state.
In his response, Governor Sule welcomed the former PDP leaders and their supporters into the APC.
He noted that their visit came just a day after he received another former PDP leader, Hajiya Farida Umar.
The governor also recalled that about a week earlier, another former national PDP officer, Mohammed Sani, had also visited him.
Sule said the series of defections showed that more politicians from opposition parties were joining the APC.
However, he stressed that Nasarawa State belongs to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
He said the benefits of his administration were not meant only for APC members, adding that all residents of the state should enjoy the dividends of democracy.
The governor listed roads, hospitals, schools and industries among the projects his administration had undertaken to improve the lives of residents.
He also highlighted the government’s economic programmes, including the “Diamond in the Rough” investment summit and the more recent “Renaissance” summit, saying they were created to attract investment and create opportunities across the state.
Governor Sule commended the defectors for joining the APC and assured them of his administration’s support as it continued to pursue its development agenda.
He added that the government would remain focused on implementing projects and policies that improve the lives of all residents, irrespective of their political affiliation.
