2 ex-PDP guber aspirants, others defect to NNPP in Bauchi

A former Senator representing Bauchi South senatorial district and a former governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Maikafi, and Ambassador Ahmed Shuaibu Ningi, former Commissioner, Mohammed Jibrin Lago alongside thousands of their supporters at the weekend defected to New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Bauchi State.

The defection was announced at the official opening ceremony of Darazo and Misau Local Government Area secretariats of the party respectively.

The Deputy National Chairman of the NNPP, Alhaji Usman Adamu Sufee and State Chairman, Engineer Mohammed Barde, described the defection of the personalities as big bold step to join forces with more formidable party in quest to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2019.

They both described the party as political party that is youth driven ready to move the state forward in terms of human and infrastructural development, employment, entrepreneurship of women and youth.

The State Chairman, Engineer Barde said: “I can assure you that our doors are open to people with good intentions for the people of the state to be part of us, as we continue the rebuilding process toward the 2019 general election”.

He however called on eligible voters to make sure they have their voter’s card, as according to him, “your voter’s card is your weapons for dislodging bad government and leaders”.

While in Misau town, Senator Abubakar Maikafi said: “We are here to join and identify with NNPP, it is not time to speak or say something is coming. We are here to formally commission our secretariat in the two local government councils to make sure we have structures in place”.

In Darazo, the former Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, and Director General, Political Mobilisation in the last administration of PDP in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Jibrin Lago, said “our defection from APC to NNPP with our supporters become necessary because we are not accommodated, no level playing field for us, that is why we parked our bags and baggages to NNPP”.

Lago explained that the APC-led administration has created unnecessary unemployment amongst youth by closing down employment outfits such as Spiderweb, Cosmopolitan Cleaners and sacking of staff at Bauchi Furniture Company, amongst others.