Ibrahim Nasidi Saal
Nine members of the Kano State House of Assembly elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform have defected to the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP).
The spokesperson of the Assembly, Uba Abdullahi, announced this in a statement he issued on Friday. He said the members had sent a letter to the Speaker of the House notifying the House of their defection.
He said some of the members cited a leadership tussle in the PDP at state and national levels for their action.
The affected members include:
Isyaku Ali Danja (Gezawa Constituency),
Umar Musa Gama (Nassarawa Constituency),
Aminu Sa’adu Ungogo (Ungogo Constituency),
Lawan Hussain Chediyar ‘Yan Gurasa (Dala Constituency)
Tukur Muhammad (Fagge Constituency).
Mu’azzam El-Yakub (Dawakin Kudu Constituency)
Garba Shehu Fammar (Kibiya Constituency)
Abubakar Uba Galadima (Bebeji Constituency)
Mudassir Ibrahim Zawaciki (Kumbotso Constituency).
Earlier on April 29, the House announced the defection of a member representing Kano Municipal, Salisu Gwangwazo, from the PDP to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), also citing an internal crisis in the main opposition party
However, the latest defections are widely seen to be connected to the movement of a former governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the PDP to the NNPP.
Mr Kwankwaso moved to the NNPP earlier this year and is expected to run for president on the party’s ticket.
Kwankwaso’s defection has triggered the mass defection of his followers from the PDP to the NNPP. Some of them have taken party positions ahead of the party’s primaries.