By Ummi Ismaeel,
Minna
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday received about 2, 000 defectors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Advance Democratic Party (ADP) and other political parties from the Niger-South (zone A) senatorial district of the state.
The PDP received them during the flag-off of the gubernatorial campaign by the party’s standard bearer for the 2019 governorship election, Alhaji Mohammed Umar Nasko, in Bida, headquarters of the Senatorial zone yesterday.
Welcoming the defectors, Niger State PDP chairman, Barrister Tanko Beji, said that dumping the ruling APC for the main opposition party in Niger State was part of evidence that Nigerlites could no longer tolerate administrative failure of the government in power.
The state PDP chairman, who assured the defectors, comprising men and women from across the eight local government councils that made up the senatorial district of level playing ground, said, “Nigerlites are tired of excuses of failure”.
Describing three years of APC administration as that of more of pains than gains, against what leadership should be, Beji argued, “Government and governance is about listening to the people, living with the people and feeling the pains of the people and attending to the most pressing needs of the people you are leading”.
While about 1, 000 APC members who decided to dump their party for the PDP were led by Alhaji Kudu Kasim, Alhaji Yahaya Designer led 500 erstwhile ADP members, while Adebaye Nupe, with 300 youths joined the PDP at the event.
Our correspondent also gathered that hundreds of others from other political parties in the zone turned out in solidarity with their brother, Barrister Mohammed Kudu Ndayako, the running mate to Umar Nasko.
Among dignitaries present at the flag-off of the gubernatorial campaign included the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, who is the leader of the party in Niger State, PDP Senatorial candidate, former and serving PDP lawmakers from the zone.
