PDP Chieftain and Supporters Dumps Party For APC In Lokoja LG

Alhaji Baba Zaki, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lokoja local government area of Kogi State, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Zaki was received into the APC by the party chairman, Alhaji Maikudi Bature at the APC Secretariat in Lokoja on Wednesday.

Zaki cited internal crisis, poor leadership, disregard for rule of law within the party and disunity as reasons for his decision to dump the PDP.

He also said the performance of the APC led government in the state was one of the reasons he dumped his former party, citing the construction of Maigari Palace-Angwan-Kura to Kabawa road by governor Yahaya Bello as what informed his decision.

Zaki said “the leadership of the PDP in the state has poorly managed affairs of the party which led to the production of unsaleable governorship candidate for the PDP in Kogi State.

“My political ideology is anchored on unity, inclusiveness, fairness and justice and if those are not found in the party then there is no reason to be in that camp.”

Zaki, who is also a community leader, said the PDP could not manage Kogi State with the “crop of leadership it has that prioritises personal interest against collective interest.

“In politics, internal democracy is very key and if you cannot find that playing out, then practising democracy on a larger platform such as governing the state becomes a big issue.”

Zaki said that the APC was more organised in Kogi State than any political party and has managed its affairs in a more family-like manner.

He called on his supporters to mobilise grassroots supports across the state to ensure that APC wins the upcoming governorship election with better voting margin.

Receiving the decampees at the APC Party secretariat in Lokoja, Bature welcomed and congratulated them for joining the ruling party with an assurance that they would not regret their action.

Describing many of the decampees as leaders and solid members of the PDP, the APC chairman assured them that the party would provide equal opportunities and privileges for both old and new members, adding that the party doors were still open for others to join.

While calling on existing APC members to welcome the decampee with open arms, the Bature enjoined all members of the party to remain united in order to continue to move the wheel of progress of the State forward.