Matawalle replaces Yari as Zamfara APC leader

The National Chairman of APC Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni, on Tuesday, named Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State as the new APC leader in the state, in line with the party’s constitution.
Buni made the announcement while handing over the party’s flag to Matawalle who was received into the APC at a rally in Gusau.
Before Matawalle’s defection, former Governor Abdulaziz Yari was the party’s leader in the state.
“This is as provided by our party’s constitution and so I am mandated to inform you that as from today, Governor Bello Matawalle is the leader of APC in the state.
“Similarly, all leadership structures of the party in the state have been dissolved while the new party leader and governor of the state will announce new leadership of the party at all levels,” he stated.
The event was attended by former Governors Ahmed Yarima, Mamuda Shinkafi and Yari.
During the event, Matawalle announced his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the failure of the party to provide an acceptable platform of moving Zamfara and the nation forward, among his reasons.
The governor defected together with all three serving senators from the state and six out of the seven House of Representatives members.
The event was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, Ministers of Environment and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Muhammad Mahmoud and Sadiya Umar-Faruk, as well as the President’s spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu.
Matawalle said: “As from today, I Bello Matawallen Maradun,  Governor of Zamfara, I am happy to announce my defection from the PDP to the APC.
“As from today, I am a full APC member and leader of APC in Zamfara.
“I am calling on all APC stakeholders in the state to join hands with me to build the party and move the state forward,” Matawalle said.
Earlier, Buni described Matawalle’s defection as a welcome development to the APC not only in Zamfara but in Nigeria in general.
“I am happy to announce that APC has received Matawalle, three Senators, six  House of Reps members and 24 members of the House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the APC.”
Buni said:  “As we all know, according to the party’s constitution, President Muhammad Buhari is our leader at national level and in each state the sitting governor from the party is the APC leader in that state.
“Therefore Matawalle is the new leader of the party in Zamfara.
“With this development, all the party executives, state, local governments and wards level are hereby dissolved,”  he added.
Yari promised to support Matawalle to continue building the party as well as tackle insecurity challenges facing the state.
Eleven APC governors, ministers, senators and House of Reps members attended the occasion.
APC supporters in Zamfara State took over the streets of Gusau to witness Matawalle’s defection.
Roads leading to Gusau Trade Fair Ground, venue of the event where Buni received Matawalle, were jampacked by the supporters.
The courts declared Matawalle, PDP candidate, winner of the 2019 governorship election in the state, since the APC that got the highest number of votes did not produce a valid candidate from its primaries.
Zamfara has been wearing a new look since preparations for the governor’s defection began.
As at Monday, PDP billboards had been changed and replaced with those of the APC with the governor’s pictures spread all over.
Similarly, vehicles which bore PDP campaign posters have completely disappeared while new ones with APC markings have taken over the roads blaring praise songs of Matawalle and the APC.
Security operatives had difficulties in controlling traffic, especially at the venue of the event even as the guests were yet to arrive.
Many people were seen trekking to the venue.
The national body of PDP, however, dissolved all the executive committees of the party in the state on Monday.