President Bola Tinubu has received no fewer than 10 political heavyweights and their supporters from the opposition PDP in Southern Kaduna into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
Mr Tinubu, represented by his chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, received the defectors on Saturday at a grand rally held in Kafanchan, the headquarters of Jema’a Local Government Area.
Prominent among the defectors were Senator Sunday Katung (PDP-Kaduna South), Rep. Daniel Amos (PDP-Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency), and Ali Kalat, a member representing Jema’a Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Mr Tinubu said the defections reflected the growing acceptance and goodwill of the APC across Kaduna State and the nation at large.
He commended Governor Uba Sani for his exemplary leadership and urged him to sustain efforts toward uniting and strengthening the party in the state.
In his remarks, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, described the development as historic, noting that Southern Kaduna had long been regarded as the stronghold of the PDP.
“For decades, they claimed ownership of your loyalty, your dreams, and your destiny, but today, that claim has ended, and the people have reclaimed their power,” Mr Tajudeen said.
He described the APC as a home of unity, inclusion, and progress.
Similarly, Mr Sani said the defections signified a new dawn in the politics of Southern Kaduna and indeed Nigeria.
He reiterated his commitment to governing with fairness and justice for all segments of the state, regardless of their political, ethnic, or religious affiliations.
Mr Sani added that while elections might divide, governance must unite, stressing that the focus of his administration was on development and service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Messrs Katung and Amos said their decision to join the APC was inspired by the developmental strides of Mr Tinubu’s administration in Southern Kaduna.
They said they had consulted widely with their constituents, who gave their blessing to align with the ruling party in order to attract more projects and opportunities to the zone.
The lawmakers pledged to contribute their experience and influence toward strengthening the APC in Southern Kaduna and beyond.
With the latest defections, Southern Kaduna, once considered a PDP stronghold, is now largely under the control of the APC.
(NAN)