The Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi, on Saturday led leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to receive over 66,000 defectors from opposition parties into the ruling party at a rally held at the Dutse Stadium.
The event drew a large crowd from across the state.
Among those in attendance were the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; Governor of Yobe State and former APC National Chairman, Mai Mala Buni; Deputy Governors of Katsina and Sokoto States; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari; members of the National Assembly, and other stakeholders of the party.
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Buni commended the turnout, saying it was “a reflection of public confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.”
He assured the new members of equal treatment within the APC and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to improving security, infrastructure, and the economy.
In his remarks, the APC National Chairman, Professor Yilwatda, welcomed the defectors and urged them to remain loyal and united under the party. He said the large-scale defection “demonstrates the people’s growing trust in the APC-led governments both at the national and state levels.”
Governor Namadi said the defectors came from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He said their decision to join the APC was due to “the success and inclusiveness of our administration’s policies.”
He pledged to sustain good governance and party unity, noting that the development was “a testimony to the people’s confidence in our collective vision for a better Jigawa.”
The event ended with the presentation of APC membership flags to representatives of the new members, marking their formal integration into the party.