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, Bashir IMAD, into the All Progressive Congress (APC).

This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Monday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris.

According to him, Mr IMAD was among the major campaign sponsors of the PDP during the 2023 general elections.

Mr Idris said, “The Zamfara State chapter of the APC is again delighted to announce the coming into the party by one of Governor 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 essential in the provision of lasting dividends of democracy, as part of the major reasons for him to part ways with the PDP.

Mr IMAD promised to move into the APC along with hundreds of his PDP card-carrying followers.

He also admitted that PDP in Zamfara State had already failed the citizens considering the non-fulfilment of various campaign promises and the lack of leadership qualities of Mr Lawal in handling the affairs of the state.

Mr IMAD further said that he learnt about the visit of the minister to Zamfara, adding, “that is why I decided to join APC before his visit’’ so that he could be acknowledged as an APC card-carrying member before the day.

He explained that many PDP bigwigs would also join the APC.

The former PDP chieftain said that the APC leadership in Zamfara under Mr Matawalle and Senator Abdulaziz Yari was uniting the party into a formidable one.

Mr IMAD said, “Every politician will appreciate and build his confidence that the party will be victorious come 2027.”

Responding, Mr Matawalle expressed gratitude to God for bringing into the APC such big shots as IMAD whose legacy cuts across the whole state and beyond.

Mr Matawalle emphasised that with more leaders and their followers joining the APC from other opposition parties, especially the ruling PDP in Zamfara State, the APC was definitely heading towards reclaiming its stolen mandate in the state in 2027.

Mr Idris quoted Mr Matawalle as saying that while the party would organise a befitting reception for IMAD and his supporters, they were already bona fide members and would be treated equally with other members without segregation.

“The defection of IMAD further confirmed the fears being expressed by the PDP in the state over Matawalle, Yari, and other APC leaders, which are attracting more new entrants into the APC. We congratulate IMAD and all his followers into our fold,” Mr Matawalle added.

(NAN)