The Gombe State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday lost 70 of its members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The 70 chieftains of the party in the Dukku Local Government Area of the state defected to the APC.
The defectors, who were ward executives of the party in the local government, said their defection to the APC was due to glaring developmental changes brought about by the APC administration.
Receiving the defectors, the governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya represented by his Chief of Staff Abubakar Kari Inuwa, expressed the delight of the state government over their defection. He assured them of equal treatment as old members of the party.
He said his administration is people-oriented with a clear vision of bringing development to their doorsteps. He called on them to convince more members of the PDP to join the APC.
“I commend your foresight to join the APC in view of the development projects executed by our government in your respective areas. This is an indication that you joined politics to be true representatives of your people.
“The government of Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is always concerned with the people at the grassroots; hence his decision to award the contract of road projects linking Gombe Abba, Kunde down to Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State,” he said.
The former PDP Secretary of Kunde Ward Liman Abubakar who spoke on behalf of other defectors said they were there to show their loyalty and support to the Inuwa-led administration.
According to him, the defectors came from three wards in Dukku Local Government Area including Gombe Abba, Zange and Kunde.