Nasarawa PDP Defection gathers pace as several PDP chieftains dump the opposition party for the APC and pledge support for Governor Abdullahi Sule.
The Nasarawa PDP Defection gathered momentum on Tuesday as several prominent chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defectors were led by the immediate past PDP Vice Chairman for Nasarawa North, Shemmy Mashi. Governor Abdullahi Sule received the delegation at the Government House in Lafia.
Speaking during the visit, Mashi said he had remained a loyal PDP member since 1999. However, he explained that he decided to leave the party after assessing the leadership and development projects of the Sule administration.
According to Mashi, the Nasarawa PDP Defection involved only a fraction of those preparing to leave the opposition party. He said many more PDP members and supporters would soon join the APC.
Several former PDP officials accompanied Mashi during the visit. They included former youth leader Yahaya Jobe, former party elder Akuson Philip, and former woman leader Christiana Ondah.
Mashi thanked Governor Sule for welcoming the new members into the APC. He also pledged the loyalty and support of the defectors to the governor and his administration.
Introducing the delegation, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development Kwanta Yakubu described the Nasarawa PDP Defection as part of a growing political movement in the state.
Yakubu said the governor’s infrastructure projects and development programmes had continued to attract politicians from different parties. He added that the administration’s style of governance was winning support across political divides.
Governor Sule welcomed the former PDP leaders and their supporters into the APC. He noted that the visit came only a day after another former PDP leader, Hajiya Farida Umar, also joined the ruling party.
The governor also recalled receiving former PDP national officer Mohammed Sani about a week earlier. He said the steady flow of new members reflected growing confidence in his administration.
Commenting on the Nasarawa PDP Defection, Sule stressed that the state belongs to every resident, regardless of political affiliation. He said his government would continue to serve all citizens equally.
The governor explained that the benefits of his administration were not limited to APC members. According to him, every resident deserves access to good governance and democratic dividends.
Sule highlighted several achievements of his administration. He pointed to investments in roads, hospitals, schools, and industries across the state. He also referenced the “Diamond in the Rough” investment summit and the more recent “Renaissance” summit, describing both initiatives as key drivers of economic growth.
The Nasarawa PDP Defection adds to a series of recent political realignments in the state. With more opposition figures joining the APC, the state’s political landscape continues to shift ahead of future elections.
Governor Sule congratulated the defectors on their decision. He assured them of cooperation and promised to remain focused on policies and projects that improve the lives of all Nasarawa residents.
