Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, on Tuesday welcomed more than 40,000 former members of opposition parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defectors, who were received at the State Government House, joined the ruling party in a significant political shift.
Governor Radda, in his address, emphasized the importance of inclusivity, urging party officials at all levels to ensure the integration of the new members into the APC’s activities.
He praised the decision of the defectors, stating it would help propel the state’s development agenda.
Leading the group of defectors were Yakubu Idris Dan Chafa and Hassan Suleiman Rawayau, both former Deputy Speakers of the State House of Assembly.
Among the new members were Isah Hamisu Dandume of the All Peoples Party (APP) and Musa Gafai, Chairman of Gafai Communication and former PDP House of Representatives aspirant, as well as several former legislators and local government leaders.
Ya’u Umar Gwajo Gwajo, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, noted that the defectors came from diverse political backgrounds.
In a statement on behalf of the group, former PDP Chairman Rabiu Gambo Bakori highlighted internal party conflicts and Governor Radda’s victory in the 2023 election as key reasons behind their shift to the APC.