Umar Namadi, Jigawa State Governor, has declared that the opposition in the State has suffered a major setback following the defection of the entire state leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and thousands of members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the Government House in Dutse on Tuesday and Wednesday while receiving the defectors, Namadi said the wave of defections reflected growing public confidence in his administration’s policies and development agenda.
Among those who joined the APC were the entire Jigawa State leadership structure of the NNPP led by Shehu Garu, more than 500 PDP members from Maigatari Local Government Area led by Safiyanu Arab, and 1,212 PDP members from Kaugama Local Government Area. The Kaugama group was presented by Ahmed Mohammed Kaugama, commissioner for Lands and Survey.
Namadi described the collapse of the NNPP structure across the State’s 27 Local Government Areas as a significant shift in Jigawa’s political landscape.
He said the development had effectively weakened the opposition, insisting that the APC had consolidated its position across the State.
According to the governor, the latest defections underscore increasing acceptance of the ruling party and demonstrate the confidence of residents in his administration.
He commended the APC leadership in Jigawa for expanding the party’s grassroots presence and urged existing members to integrate the new entrants without discrimination.
Namadi assured the defectors that they would enjoy equal rights and opportunities within the party, stressing that his administration would continue to uphold fairness and inclusive governance.
He said every resident of Jigawa, irrespective of political affiliation, deserves equal attention from government and pledged that his administration would continue to serve all communities without bias.
The governor also encouraged APC members across the State to embrace the defectors, noting that they had joined the party with substantial grassroots support capable of strengthening its political base.
Explaining the reasons behind the decision to leave the NNPP, Shehu Garu said the leadership style of the governor, which he described as fair, mature and development-oriented, influenced their decision to join the APC.
Garu said the administration had earned public confidence through its commitment to justice, compassion and sustainable development, adding that the party believed Jigawa was on the right path under Namadi’s leadership.
Safiyanu Arab, who led more than 500 PDP members from Maigatari into the APC, also attributed the defection to what he described as the governor’s inclusive leadership style and commitment to youth empowerment.
Arab said opposition members enjoy greater freedom and respect in the State than in previous administrations, adding that government programmes are being implemented without political discrimination.
He further commended the administration’s efforts to tackle youth unemployment and promote equal access to government opportunities, regardless of political affiliation.
The latest defections come amid increasing political realignments across several states ahead of future electoral contests, with the APC continuing to attract members from opposition parties in parts of northern Nigeria.
Comments
Start the conversation about this story.