Labaran Maku, former minister of information, has declared his intention to contest the Nasarawa governorship seat in 2023, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Mr Maku, a one-time deputy governor and ex-Commissioner in Nasarawa, made the declaration on Saturday in Lafia when he informed the state working committee of PDP of his return to the party.

Mr Maku, who until his return, was the National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), apologised for leaving the PDP in 2015.

He said he left the PDP following dissatisfaction with the outcome of the 2015 governorship primary of the party.

The former minister said though he could not justify his defection from the party, he asked PDP members for forgiveness, adding that he had forgiven all that betrayed him in the past.

Mr Maku said he would contest the governorship seat, promised to accept the outcome of the party’s primary, and would work with whoever got the ticket to deliver the state to the party in 2023.

He said the state had suffered a lot from bad governance, poor performance by government officials and total neglect of the people in the last 12 years.

“We are on a rescue mission under PDP,’’ he said and appealed to the people to vote out APC in 2023.

Responding, Francis Orogu, PDP Chairman in the state described Mr Maku’s return as home-coming, which would add value to the PDP ahead of forthcoming primary.

Mr Orogu assured Mr Maku that the leadership of the party would provide a level playing ground for all aspirants to realise their ambitions.

(NAN)