The All Progressives Congress in Zamfara says a Peoples Democratic Party House of Assembly candidate has dumped his party to join its fold 

Umar Yahaya, PDP’s flag bearer for the Talata Mafara North State Constituency, defected to the APC on Friday, according to a statement issued in Gusau by the state APC spokesman Yusuf Idris.

Mr Yahaya’s defection came five days after PDP State Assembly candidate for Gusau 2 Constituency, Ibrahim Mada also defected to APC.

Mr Idris said that Mr Yahaya was received by Governor Bello Matawalle and State APC Chairman, Tukur Danfulani.

“Yahaya said he took the decision to abandon his candidature under the PDP to join the APC because of the alleged crisis rocking his former party at national and the state levels,” Mr Idris said in his statement.

“He said that the PDP leadership in the state is too dictatorial and not respecting the opinion and interest of members,” Mr Idris added.

Mr Idris quoted Mr Yahaya as informing Mr Matawalle that “PDP is not accessible even to top party leaders in the state no matter the situation.

“A lot of PDP members will soon come and join the APC.”

In his remarks, Mr Matawalle commended Mr Yahaya’s courage to abandon his candidature and join the progressive party in the state.

The governor said that APC was a party that accommodates all its members and assured him of equal opportunity with other members.

Mr Matawalle urged him to enlighten other members of his former party, PDP on the importance of joining hands in moving Zamfara forward.

“My administration has done a lot in terms of security, infrastructure development, job creation and inclusive governance”, Mr Matawalle added.

(NAN)