Governor Nasir Idris has formally received the Peoples Democratic Party chairman of Argungu LGA, Bello Layya, alongside 1,500 party supporters who defected to the All Progressives Congress in Kebbi.

Among those who joined the chairman are all the LG ward chairpersons, youth leader, women leader, and a former member of the House of Representatives, Garba Musa-Gulma.

Receiving the new members at the flag-off of the APC zonal campaign rally in Argungu on Monday, the governor expressed delight over the decision of the ex-PDP members to join the ruling party.

Mr Idris observed that receiving a large number of people from the main opposition party reflects people’s trust in the ability of the APC-led administration in Kebbi.

The governor said the rush to join APC in the state might be associated with the progress made within one year of APC leadership, especially in education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

Mr Idris urged the people to come out en masse and exercise their franchise by casting their votes on APC.

“We are calling on you people to come out en-mass and exercise your franchise. This is your right but we are appealing to you to vote for our candidates seeking to become chairmen and councillors. The State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) is fully ready to conduct free, fair, and credible elections across the state,” he said.

The governor charged the electorate with maintaining high decorum, discipline, and respect for the rule of law during and after the LG polls.

The APC chair in Kebbi, Abubakar Kana-Zuru, said the zonal rally was meant to kick-start the campaign at the zonal level, which would be extended to local government, ward, polling unit and house-to-house levels.

He encouraged party loyalists and other electorate to work hard to ensure the victory of APC at all levels for the state’s good.

Mr Kana-Zuru called on the electorate to come out en masse to vote for APC, observing that casting votes for APC meant endorsing more developmental projects to “your respective areas.”

(NAN)