Jennifer Ugwueke
Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad, a former Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reports say Muhammad, who deputised former Governor Abdulaziz Yari from 2011 to 2019, on Wednesday, December 2, announced his decision after meeting with his key supporters in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
“There were several speculations making the rounds for about two years now over where I politically belong; hence I feel this is the right time to put the records straight. “I have remained a full card-carrying member of the All Progressives Party, APC, even though since the time of our crisis in 2019, the party did not consider us relevant, as demonstrated by its not inviting or informing us of any of its activities. “I want to formally inform the general public that I have finally defected from the APC and have officially joined the PDP right from my Madawaki Ward under Gusau Local Government Area.”
Alhaji Wakkala said he started making moves to deregister himself from the APC when the party was hijacked by some individuals. He added: “The mission of those individuals was to alienate and disenfranchise the majority members of the party and produce primaries in which only their handpicked surrogates are declared the winners. This move eventually destabilized the party and we formed the G8 group under it.
“Since the inception of the present administration under Governor Bello Matawalle, I have been playing an advisory role especially in addressing the security issues of the State which by Allah’s grace is gradually reducing. “For these reasons and my genuine concerns to the growth and development of Zamfara and the improved welfare of its citizens, the Governor has appealed to me to join him into the PDP so that together, we can work for the progress of the State.”