Defection Hits SDP As Candidates Decamp To APC In Kebbi

As the 2023 general elections gets closer, a massive defection has hit the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kebbi State as all its candidates have dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors included the state's gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Atiku MaiAhu alongside 34 other candidates of the party contesting for various political positions.

They were received by the state governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu on Tuesday.

While receiving them at the APC campaign Council Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, the governor expressed his joy over the development. 

He commended the defectors, describing their decision as a bold step towards progress.

He noted that their defection was in the interest of the state's and party's development. 

This was contained in a statement by Yahaya Sarki, Media aide to the governor on Tuesday. 

The governor stressed that everyone was important in the party, especially in a democratic dispensation. 

"Take for instance, China has the highest population, but operate a one party system yet they are progressing and are united under one party system.

"Division will not take us anywhere, division will only retard our development. It is the ideology of APC in Kebbi to embrace all.

 "We are not too many in the party as our huge number will be our strength and advantageous to vote our chosen candidates and move the party and state forward. 

"We are praying that one day, all our political parties in the state will be collapsed into one formidable party in order to move the state forward."

The governor further congratulated the state's APC chairman, Abubakar Muhammad Kana Zuru and the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State and all stakeholders who played significant role in convincing the defectors to join the APC.

Also speaking, the APC gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu also expressed excitement over the development. 

He assured the defectors of equal treatment as other members of the party. 

"You made the right decision by Joining APC, I really commend your foresight in taking such a good decision," he said.

Meanwhile, in his earlier remark, the SDP gubernatorial candidate who defected to the APC, Mai-Ahu, said the entire structure of the party in the state has defected to the APC.

He explained that the entire candidates and the state executives from 225 wards had defected to the APC. 

"We have candidates contesting for twenty two state assembly position, seven candidates contesting for house of representatives and three others contesting for senatorial position in the state as well as my running mate, Alhaji Bello Tilli. 

"We have also presented the letters of our withdrawal from SDP to APC.

"We have made the decision, myself, my deputy, senatorial and House of Representatives candidates that we have withdrew from our contest to join APC for development of our state.

"And we members of SDP, we have common ideology with APC. 

"That ideology is right, making progress, leadership that is totality, leadership of inclusiveness. 

"And as you all know, Governor Bagudu of Kebbi state has been involving people in the running of government to ensure that our dear state, our people are secured and to make sure we are not in hunger.

"So, our decision is base on this ideology and that is our decision.

"So, we would continue to work 24 hours to ensure Kebbi state is developed."