Top PDP Chieftains Defects To APC In Katsina Ahead Of March 11 Guber Elections

Some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reportedly withdrawn their membership and declared allegiance to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Katsina State ahead of the March 11 governorship elections.

Reports obtained by Naija News revealed that seven top members of the PDP and about ten thousand of their supporters joined the ruling party in Katsina on Tuesday (today).

The development was confirmed to newsmen today by the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council in the state, Ahmed Musa-Dangiwa.

Addressing reporters, Musa-Dangiwa noted that Katsina Governor Aminu Masari received the former PDP members. He also disclosed that most of the defectors are close associates of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema.

“Among them was Alhaji Bashir Tanimu-Dutsinma, former personal assistant to Shema, former local government chairman and also a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Northwest zonal caucus,’’ he said.

He added that the others were prominent political leaders and business moguls in Katsina State. According to Musa-Dangiwa, the defection was a great sign of success for the APC at the state’s March 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Gbemisola Saraki Denies Dumping APC For PDP

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Gbemisola Saraki, denied joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Saraki, in a statement released through her media consultant Moses Bello also distanced herself from reports claiming she is supporting the PDP Kwara gubernatorial candidate, Yaman.

According to Bello, the Minister worked tirelessly to ensure that the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, won the presidential election in the state. Bello said Saraki supported Tinubu despite the disagreements with the APC-led state government’s actions regarding the late Oloye Sola Saraki’s legacies.

He said the minister had stated that she remains a member of the ruling party in Kwara and the country, adding that she had no intention of leaving the party.

Bello said, “If anything, I am even more committed to ensuring the success of the incoming Asiwaju/Shettima administration come May 29.”

He noted that Saraki had had a chequered political career and remained one of the powerful forces in Kwara politics.

He added, “Saraki is a grassroots mobiliser and has pledged her continued allegiance to President Buhari’s administration, as well as that of incoming one of Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima.”