Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has officially welcomed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman of Argungu Local Government Area, Alhaji Bello Layya, along with 1,500 party supporters, into the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection was marked at the flag-off of the APC Zonal Campaign Rally in Argungu on Monday.
Among the new APC members are all the Local Government Ward Chairmen, the Youth Leader, the Women Leader, and a former member of the House of Representatives, Garba Musa-Gulma. The governor, represented by his Deputy, Sen. Umar Abubakar-Tafida, expressed his pleasure at the decision of the former PDP members to join the ruling party, stating that the move reflects the public’s trust in the APC-led administration in Kebbi.
Idris attributed the wave of defections to the progress made under APC leadership within just one year, particularly in education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure development. He urged the electorate to turn out en masse to vote for APC candidates in the upcoming local government elections, emphasizing the readiness of the Kebbi State Independent Electoral Commission (KESIEC) to conduct free, fair, and credible polls.
The governor also called for peaceful conduct during and after the elections, stressing the importance of discipline and respect for the rule of law.
Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru, the APC Chairman in the state, highlighted that the zonal rally marks the beginning of a broader campaign extending to local government, ward, and even house-to-house levels. He encouraged party members and voters to work diligently to secure APC’s victory, assuring that voting for APC is synonymous with endorsing continued development in their communities.
In their remarks, former Deputy Governor Alhaji Bello Dantani and Rep. Garba Rabi’u-Kamba, representing Arewa/Dandi federal constituency, urged voters to support APC with block votes, assuring that the administration’s achievements would be sustained and expanded upon.
The campaign entourage also paid homage to the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammadu Sama’ila-Mera, who emphasized the need for unity among Kebbi’s political leaders to achieve peace, progress, and socioeconomic development. The Emir called on the people to support government initiatives to attract more democratic dividends to their areas.
Gov. Idris, in his address at the Emir’s palace, expressed gratitude for the traditional ruler’s support and promised continued collaboration with traditional institutions for the state’s progress.
