About 5,060 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The defectors’ leader, Adbullahi Bafala, told a large crowd at a rally in Bununu, the headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, that they decided to join the PDP because of the huge infrastructure development recorded under Governor Bala Mohammed’s leadership in less than three years.
He said, “I left APC to join PDP with 5,060 followers. What impressed me was the good work of the governor. He is working for the people of Bauchi State and not for his pocket.
“I cried when l saw the work he did on the Tafawa Balewa road to Yelwa Duguri, 52 kilometres road. It was a virgin land and the people of the area suffered for a long time because of the terrible road. Now we are smiling becauae of that road. We are praying to God that he would be re-elected to construct more roads linking the grassroots areas to Tafawa Balewa and beyond.”
Governor Mohammed, who received the defectors in Bununu, said they made the right decision, adding that the APC was becoming increasingly unpopular in Nigeria.
Mohammed told the defectors that they would be supported and urged residents of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area to vote for all PDP candidates in the upcoming general elections.
Addressing supporters earlier in Tafawa Balewa, the governor pledged to provide a new transformer to the people of the area in two weeks saying he was shocked to learn they have not had electricity for months.
Mohammed also promised to construct more roads in Tafawa Balewa that would link communities in the state with neighboring Plateau State to boost socio-economic activities and improve the standard of living if re-elected.
He expressed hope that the people of Tafawa Balewa would not allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to record another inconclusive election in the LGA like was experienced in 2019 which almost led to breakdown of law and order.
Governor Mohammed then called on citizens of the state to put the state’s interest above personal aspirations for the growth and development of Nigeria’s democracy.
He warned that marauders would not be given the opportunity to take the leadership affairs, adding that candidates on the platform of the PDP in all levels were not blindfolded hence the need for to voters to vote for them in the forthcoming election.