In a significant political shift, Alhaji Bello Layya, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman of Argungu Local Government Area in Kebbi State, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with 1,500 supporters. The mass defection, which also included all the local government ward chairmen, youth and women leaders, and former House of Representatives member Garba Musa-Gulma, was officially received by Governor Nasir Idris at the APC Zonal Campaign Rally in Argungu.
Governor Idris, represented by his Deputy, Senator Umar Abubakar-Tafida, expressed his pleasure at the defection, seeing it as a testament to the trust in the APC’s leadership. He credited the party’s success to its achievements in education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure within the first year of APC’s governance in the state. He urged the electorate to support the APC in the upcoming local government elections, emphasizing the importance of casting votes for continued development in the state.
The event also featured calls from other APC leaders for party loyalists to ensure a strong voter turnout. The rally marked the beginning of a zonal campaign that will extend to all levels of the community, with a strong emphasis on grassroots mobilization.
The campaign entourage paid homage to the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammadu Sama’ila-Mera, who advised politicians in the state to unite and work towards the common goals of peace and development. Governor Idris affirmed his commitment to collaborating with traditional institutions for the benefit of the state.