Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing disagreements over insecurity and what they described as a lack of concern for the welfare of the people.
The lawmakers include Aliyu Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, popularly known as Jikan Shehu, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa of Maradun I; and Basiru Bello of Bungudu West.
Others are Bashir Masama of Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim Tukur of Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi of Maru North; Yusuf Anka of Anka; and Bashar Aliyu of Gummi I.
Speaking on the reasons for their defection, Kagara said their disagreement with Governor Dauda Lawal stemmed from the security challenges affecting the state and what he described as the government’s lack of concern for the plight of the people.
He explained that their decision to raise concerns about insecurity on the floor of the Assembly did not go down well with the governor, resulting in disagreements and their subsequent suspension.
“Because of the lack of security and lack of concern for the people of Zamfara, we raised the issue in the House, which did not go down well with the governor. That was why we had issues with him, which led to our suspension and later defection to the APC,” Kagara said.
The lawmaker, however, alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders conspired against them and denied them a fair hearing.
