The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Katsina State has reportedly initiated contact and begun moves to possibly woo a stalwart of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr Mustapha Inuwa, back to the APC.
Inuwa, who is a founding member of the APC in the state, had left the party shortly after failing to secure the party’s gubernatorial ticket in 2023.
He first left for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he served as Director-General for the Abubakar Atiku campaign team in the state, which saw Atiku garner more votes than President Bola Tinubu in the last presidential election in the state.
But the APC, ostensibly trying to boost its chances of winning in the coming elections, sent two of its topmost members to Inuwa’s private residence where closed-door meetings were said to have been held.
First, the ruling party sent former Chief of Staff to the state Governor, and current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Alhaji Jabiru Tsauri.
Next, they sent the state’s deputy governor, Alhaji Lawal Jobe, but details of what was discussed was not made public as at time of report.
But it was gathered that the APC, aware of Inuwa’s strong political influence and structure in the state, prefers to have him on their side by the time election campaigns and voting process commences next year.
It was also learnt that the factional problem being faced by the ADC in the state, gave the APC the leeway to make the overture to try to win Inuwa over.
Recall that the ADC in the state is currently split into two factions, has two separate governorship candidates, along duplicate candidates vying for various political seats at the state and national levels.
Inuwa, who had contested for the governorship ticket on platform of the ADC, did not get to secure same as it was clinched by Senator Ahmed Babba Kaita through a consensus agreement.
But Inuwa, along others that contested for the ticket, had alleged that the process which produced Senator Kaita was not free and fair, and that it failed to comply with statutes enshrined in the Electoral Act.
Meanwhile, 34 Katsina State House of Assembly aspirants have defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The aspirants, citing injustice and lack of opportunities as main reasons for defecting, were received into the PDP at a reception that held late Tuesday evening.
The aspitants or their representatives from 18 local government areas of the state, said they decided to return to the PDP after realizing that the ADC lacked a proper structure and leadership.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the leader of the ADC State Assembly aspirants group, Hon. Ahmad Yusuf Jaguma, said he and the other 33 aspirants left the ADC dud to what he described as “injustice and poor leadership”.
“We thought deeply, and we found that PDP is the solution. We left a disorganized journey and returned to our original home,” Jaguma said.
He explained that they initially joined the ADC hoping that the political leader of the PDP in the state, Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke, would also defect to the ADC, but that did not happen, which made them reconsider their position.
Speaking, the State PDP Chairman, Hon. Nuraddeen Amadi Kurfi, welcomed the new members, saying their return is a sign of how the PDP continues to serve as a refuge for those seeking justice in politics.
Kurfi boasted that no PDP membe left the party after the primary elections, attributing this to the justice and unity that exists between the party’s leaders and members.
“You will have full opportunity and justice in PDP. This party is home for everyone, and we are confident you will be proud of the decision you made,” he said.
Also speaking, the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke, reiterated that the party would always welcome anyone who has experienced disappointment or injustice in another party.
Danmarke predicted that many more people would continue to return to the PDP in the coming days as the party is currently in talks with several major political figures in the state.
