- Umar Namadi welcomed about 4,000 defectors to the APC in Jigawa, describing the party as the people’s preferred choice
- The defectors, led by Safiyanu Ubale Taura, included key opposition figures from Taura and Ringim areas
- The governor assured inclusive leadership and said the growing defections strengthened APC’s grassroots dominance
Governor Umar Namadi has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains the preferred party in Jigawa State following the defection of about 4,000 members from opposition parties.
The governor made the assertion during a grand reception held in Taura Local Government Area, where the new members were formally received. The event also featured the commissioning of a new APC secretariat, underscoring the party’s expanding presence at the grassroots level.
The defectors were led by Safiyanu Ubale Taura, a former state party chairman and four-time member of the House of Representatives, who had been a prominent figure in both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
Speaking at the event, Governor Namadi described the mass defection as a clear indication of the APC’s growing popularity and acceptance across the state. He noted that many of the new entrants were influential political actors from Taura and Ringim Local Government Area, whose involvement would further strengthen the party’s grassroots mobilisation.
“This development clearly shows that the APC remains the party of choice for the people of Jigawa. The calibre of individuals we have received today represents the core of political mobilisation in Taura and Ringim,” he said.
The governor added that the influx of new members far outweighed any recent defections from the party, emphasising that the APC continues to gain momentum across all 27 local government areas in the state. He assured the defectors of fairness, inclusiveness and equal opportunities within the party, pledging to uphold the trust placed in his administration.
Also speaking, the APC State Chairman, Ahmed Garba M.K., said the party had witnessed an unprecedented wave of defections in recent times. He attributed the trend to Governor Namadi’s leadership style and ongoing development initiatives across the state.
In his remarks, Taura pledged the full loyalty of his supporters to the APC and vowed to work towards securing victory for the party in future elections.
Political observers say the development could further consolidate the APC’s dominance in Jigawa, particularly as parties begin to position themselves ahead of upcoming electoral contests.