Mohammed Isimbabi, a member representing Toto/Gadabuke Constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Danladi Jatau, the Speaker of the house, announced this while reading Mr Isimbabi’s defection letter during its proceedings on Monday in Lafia.

The speaker said Mr Isimbabi cited division in the NNPP at the national level as the major reason for his defection to the APC.

Mr Jatau commended the lawmaker for his bold step in joining the ruling APC in the state.

”I want to commend him for taking this very serious decision to join APC. His defection to the APC is welcome as a leader of the house,” he said.

The speaker said that Mr Isimbabi’s defection would add value to the party.

Also speaking, Aliyu Bello, APC chairman in the state, commended Mr Isimbabi for joining the progressive party in the country.

”Hon. Isimbabi’s defection is very significant. This is the beauty of democracy, as Hon. Isimbabi was our former member.

”Since there is a lot of crisis in the NNPP at the national level, it is necessary for him to join APC to add value to the development of the state and country,” he said.

The APC chairman also commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for his developmental strides in the state.

Mr Bello said, ”Honourable Isimbabi also joined the party due to the developmental strides of Sule. He has disclosed that five more members will soon join APC.

”There is no more PDP in the country. PDP has failed in government and opposition in the country.”

He said that APC’s doors were open to welcome more people into it, adding that “very soon, five lawmakers will join APC in the state.”

Mr Bello assured the lawmaker of equity and fairness in the party.

On his part, Musa Abubakar (NNPP-Doma South), while congratulating Mr Isimbabi on his defection, said that he would also join the APC soon.

He said, “Mr Isimbabi’s defection is a welcome development. We share common political interests. I will be leaving NNPP soon.”

Responding, Mr Isimbabi said that he defected from the NNPP due to the division within the party at the national level.

He, however, appreciated the NNPP for giving him the platform to vie for office, which he won to become a member of the assembly.

The lawmaker said that he would continue to serve his people in order to improve their standard of living.

”Before taking this decision, I have gone round the six electoral wards of my constituency to consult them on my defection.

”They have given me the go-ahead to defect to APC,” he said.

(NAN)