Six members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), further altering the political balance within the state legislature.
The lawmakers, who were elected on the platform of the PDP, formally announced their defection to the APC, a move seen as part of the party’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its influence in the state.
Those who crossed over to the APC include Muktar Nasir Kaura, who represents Kaura North Constituency; Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maru of Maru North; and Hon. Amiru Ahmad Keta, representing Tsafe West.
Others are Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi of Gummi I Constituency; Barrister Bashir Abubakar Masama from Bukkuyum North; and Hon. Bashir Bello, representing Bungudu West Constituency.
The development marks a significant shift in party alignment within the Zamfara State House of Assembly, as the APC continues to strengthen its numerical advantage.
Political observers say the defection of the six lawmakers underscores the growing challenge facing the PDP in Zamfara, where internal disagreements and defections have continued to affect the party’s strength.
The APC, on the other hand, has steadily expanded its foothold in the legislature, benefiting from the recent wave of defections.
The Zamfara development comes amid a similar crisis confronting the PDP in Rivers State. On Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that the opposition party was reduced to just two members in the Rivers State caucus of the House of Representatives following the defection of six lawmakers to the APC.
The defectors are Robinson Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, Blessing Amadi and Felix Nwaeke.
Their exit left the PDP with only the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, and Kelechi Nwogu as its remaining representatives from the state.
While reading the letters of defection on the floor of the House, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, attributed the lawmakers’ decision to “divisions and unresolved political crisis in the PDP.”
The defecting lawmakers also blamed the party’s internal wrangling for their decision, saying the crisis had made it impossible for them to pursue their political aspirations.
They added that they would now align with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu under the APC.
The latest defections further weaken the PDP’s presence in Rivers State, where the party once controlled 12 seats in the House of Representatives before the recent wave of exits.
Just last week, the PDP lost three other lawmakers from the state, Boniface Emerengwa, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Boma Goodhead, who also defected to the APC.
With the latest development, only Chinda and Nwogu remain to represent the PDP in the Rivers State caucus of the House, highlighting the deepening crisis facing the opposition party in the state.