Leaders and members of some political groups loyal to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state have defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) over allegation of abandonment by the governor.
Our correspondent reports that the former loyalists of the governor who announced their defection Tuesday joined force with Senator representing Bauchi central Dauda Jika who is believed to be nursing ambition for the governorship seat in 2023.
They were received by Jika’s legislative aide Honourable Imamu Tukur Ahmad at his residence in Bauchi.
According to the spokespersons of some of the defectors Malam Nafiu alias Mai kankana Na kauran Bauchi and Aisha Jinin PDP who was women leader of the governor’s women support group, they dumped their principal for allegedly neglecting them since after election.
They claimed that they defected together with 7,632 women who decamped from PDP to Jika’s camp.
They further alleged that they suffered during electioneering to ensure that the governor triumphed but he is yet to reward them one year after.
The second group under the auspices of Bauchi Youth, Women and Vulnerable Support Initiative, under the leadership of Kamal A. Toro and their women leader, Hajiya Rabi claimed that their members who are 2, 441 across the state also left the PDP for APC.
They said the group comprises of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), people with disabilities, widows and unemployed youth and women.
Responding, the senator through his legislative aide Honourable Imamu Tukur Ahmad expressed delight over the reception of the decampees to his camp.
According to him, they met the right camp bragging that his principal is the best candidate that has the strength and experience to unseat the present governor in the next election.