Muhammad-Lawal Kurya, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the recently concluded by-election for the Kaura Namoda South Constituency by-election in Zamfara, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Kurya announced his defection in Gusau on Saturday at the stakeholders’ consultation meeting for Zamfara Central organised by a popular APC group, ‘Yazeed Project’.

The APC candidate, Kamilu Sa’idu, defeated Mr Kurya.

The meeting was organised to woo Hon. Yazeed Danfulani to contest for the Zamfara Central Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

The meeting was attended by 550 members comprising youths, women, social media handlers, elders and community leaders, among others, all of them from Zamfara Central Senatorial District.

Mr Kurya said he defected from PDP to APC because of negligence from the PDP leadership in the state.

“I have so many personal and political reasons that necessitated my defection from PDP to APC, among them, negligence.

“Since I lost the by-election, the party leadership and top government officials of Zamfara have neglected me. In fact, most of them blocked my access to them.

“I think as a politician with a large number of followers, I have to change my political movement to a party that is ready to carry me,” he said.

According to him, another major reason was that he had suffered from PDP over the years.

Mr Kurya said, ” I have been working for the party since the 2023 general elections but there was no reward.

“Today, I decided to join the APC, considering the popularity of the party in the just-concluded by-election that I contested under the PDP.

“The APC has massive supporters from my constituency, all the records and results of the APC during the by-election were true.

“Our election was free as well as fair and honestly, I was defeated by the APC candidate, Kamilu Sa’idu.

“Therefore, I decided to join the APC considering its popularity, good leadership and it is a party with a grassroots structure across the state.”

According to him, with the leadership of the party under the minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle, Sen. Abdul’aziz Yari and the state APC chairman, Tukur Danfulani, the party would continue to grow from strength to strength.

“I have the confidence that the APC will not neglect me the way PDP did to me after I spent a lot from my pocket for the party’s victory in the 2023 governorship election in the state”, Mr Kurya added.

Receiving the former PDP candidate to the APC, the state APC chairman, Danfulani, represented by the state publicity secretary, Yusuf Idris, described the development as a great achievement for the APC.

“On behalf of the APC leadership in the state, particularly the minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle and Sen. Abdul’aziz Yari, we are happy today to receive Muhammad-Lawal Kurya to the APC.

“We welcome you to a progressive party. We are ready to go ahead with you. Your defection today indicated the soaring popularity of the APC in the state

“I believe, more are coming to the APC, very soon, many serving lawmakers and serving Commissioners would join the party,” Mr Idris assured.

Speaking earlier, Abubakar Sadiq, the state coordinator, Yazeed Project, said the meeting for Mr Danfulani was to throw their weight behind him for the Zamfara Central Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections.

“We have 550 participants of this epochal event comprising representatives and Coordinators from political wards across the four local government areas of Zamfara Central,” Mr Sadiq explained.

(NAN)