The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State has suffered yet another setback following the defection of a serving member of the State House of Assembly representing Maradun II Constituency, Hon. Maharazu Salisu, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Hon. Salisu formally announced his defection on Tuesday at the APC State Secretariat in Gusau, attributing his decision to mounting pressure from his constituents over what they described as the PDP-led government’s neglect and failure to deliver development projects in the area.
“My esteemed constituents, whom I represent at the State House of Assembly, summoned me and lamented that the ruling PDP has failed to deliver on the campaign promises made by Governor Dauda Lawal. I have done my best as a lawmaker to ensure my constituency benefits from the dividends of democracy, but all efforts proved abortive,” Salisu said.
He added that his constituency had been completely sidelined from state government initiatives.
“Apart from being excluded from the list of beneficiaries of state projects, there has never been any political appointment for my constituency or Maradun Local Government in general,” he added.
The lawmaker revealed that he was joining the APC along with PDP leaders across five wards in his constituency Faru/Magami, Gidan Goga, Kaya, Tsibiri, and Gora as well as one ward in Maradun town.
Receiving the defectors, APC State Chairman, Hon. Tukur Danfulani Maikatako, described the move as another testament to the growing strength and unity of the APC in Zamfara State.
Maikatako commended the contributions of former Governor and Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, for their ongoing efforts to support the people through empowerment and poverty alleviation initiatives.
“This development shows that, in the next few weeks, Zamfara will be entirely APC,” Maikatako declared. “We assure all defectors that they will be treated equally and given every opportunity to contribute to the growth of the party both at the state and national levels.”
