In the Dukku local government area of Gombe State, 616 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left for the governing All Progressives Congress yesterday (APC).
Former PDP official in the local government Alhaji Kwairanga Dukku persuaded 616 PDP members from various wards to switch to the APC.
At a lavish celebration held at the party's local government headquarters, they were welcomed by the state commissioner for finance, Muhammad Magaji, on behalf of the state governor, Inuwa Yahaya, who is the leader of the party in the state.
At the ceremony, Kwairanga stated that the numerous initiatives completed by Governor Inuwa's administration were a factor in their decision to join the APC and that they now aim to collaborate with him to improve the state.
He claimed that Inuwa has done a lot for the people of the local government, which is why they are determined to support him, and that politics is about providing development and democratic dividends to the inhabitants.
Additionally, Alhaji Bappah Maru, a PDP Elders' Forum member in the local government, claimed that the current administration's efforts, particularly in resolving the water issues in Dukku, persuaded him to switch to the APC.
In his speech, the commissioner argued that the APC-led government had firmly established excellent administration in the state and urged voters to support its reelection in 2023.
He claimed that the significant number of individuals who switched over to the party demonstrated the lack of future for any opposition party in the state in 2023.
The state publicity secretary of the party, Abubakar Umar Goro who promised that the new defectors would be given equal treatment as other party members, said with the calibre of people received in Dukku the APC in Gombe had been further fortified ahead of 2023 general election.