The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has received a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Zamfara governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2019 General Elections, Alhaji Bashir IMAD, into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Monday by the State APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris.
According to him, IMAD was among the major campaign sponsors of the PDP during the 2023 General Elections.
Idris said, “The Zamfara chapter of the APC is again delighted to announce the coming into the party by one of Gov. Dauda Lawal’s major campaign sponsors, Alhaji Bashir IMAD, the MD/CEO of IMAD Petroleum Nigeria Ltd.
“IMAD personally met the former Governor and Minister of State for Defence, Matawalle in Abuja to announce his defection from the PDP.”
He cited the lack of focus and poor leadership, which were very essential in the provision of lasting dividends of democracy, as part of the major reasons he had to part ways with the PDP.
IMAD promised to move into the APC along with hundreds of his PDP card-carrying followers.
He also admitted that PDP in Zamfara had already failed the citizens considering the non-fulfilment of various campaign promises and the lack of leadership qualities of Lawal in handling the affairs of the state.
IMAD further said that he learnt about the visit of the Minister to Zamfara, adding, “That is why I decided to come and join APC before his visit so that I can be acknowledged as an APC card-carrying member before the day”.
IMAD said, “Every politician will appreciate and build his confidence that the party will be victorious come 2027.”
Responding, Matawalle expressed gratitude to God for bringing into the APC such big shots as IMAM whose legacy cuts across the whole state and beyond.
Matawalle emphasised that with more leaders and their followers joining the APC from other opposition parties, especially the ruling PDP in Zamfara, the APC was definitely heading towards reclaiming its stolen mandate in the state in 2027.(NAN)