NIGER ASSEMBLY DEBUNKS RUMOURS OF MEMBER’S DEFECTION, REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR APC
By Ruqayyah M. Tanko
The Niger State House of Assembly has dismissed as false and unfounded the rumours circulating on social media that some members of the Assembly are planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to opposition parties.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Barr. Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, made this known during a press briefing held at the Assembly Complex in Minna, where he described the reports as mere social media propaganda aimed at creating confusion among members of the public.
The Speaker said although the House would ordinarily not respond to every report or propaganda circulating on social media, he considered it necessary to address the trending story in the interest of Nigerlites and in the spirit of maintaining the Assembly as one united family.
Barr. Sarkin-Daji explained that there is no move by any member of the Niger State House of Assembly to defect from the APC to any opposition party.
He said, “I want to make it very clear that there is no such move by any member of this Assembly to defect from the APC to any other opposition party.
You can see with your own eyes that all the 27 members are here.
We have interacted with one another and we have investigated whether there is anyone of us who, behind the scenes, is working out something with the opposition. Unfortunately, I regret to announce that there is no such move by any member of this Assembly.”
The Speaker further reaffirmed that the members of the House remain united and committed to the APC, stressing that they would continue to support the party at all levels.
He said, “We are one and united family. We are behind APC, we are for APC and we will continue to be for APC.
We are for our Farmer Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, and we are for our President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The Speaker also used the opportunity to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago as the Zonal Coordinator, North Central, of the Presidential Campaign Council.
He said the Assembly wants the President to know that the people of Niger State, including the State House of Assembly, are fully behind Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and will give him the necessary support to succeed in the assignment.
Barr. Sarkin-Daji expressed confidence that Governor Bago would deliver the six states in the North Central geo-political zone to the APC in the 2027 General Election.
The Speaker further stated that there was no need for reconciliation within the Niger State House of Assembly, stressing that the members remain one united family.
According to him, members who have secured the opportunity to return to the Assembly have fully embraced their colleagues who were unable to return, noting that their inability to secure the party’s ticket was not necessarily because they were unpopular or not preferred by their constituents, but largely due to the geo-political zoning arrangement in the State.
He explained that some of the affected members had served two, three or even four terms, and that it was time for the political mandate to move to another geo-political zone within their respective constituencies.
“As far as this Assembly is concerned, we have not even started any reconciliation because we do not need it. We understand ourselves. We are for APC and we will continue to be for APC,” the Speaker stated.
Speaking on behalf of the 15 non-returning members of the Assembly, Hon. Engr. Mohammed A. Haruna disclosed that the members, popularly referred to as the G-15, remain united and committed to the APC.
He explained that the G-15 comprises members who were not able to secure the party’s tickets during the last primary election.
Hon. Engr. Mohammed A. Haruna said, “As the Speaker has stated, we have resolved our differences and remain united as one big family in support of our Farmer Governor. We will make sure that we support him to deliver the party, along with all the candidates from the top to the bottom.”
He described the rumours circulating on social media as immaterial, assuring the people of Niger State that no member of the Assembly had been lost to any opposition party.
“Any rumour that is spreading anywhere is immaterial at this time. We are united. We have not lost any member to any party or any opposition. We have conquered and we will deliver,” he stated.
The Niger State House of Assembly therefore calls on the people of the State and the general public to disregard the false reports of mass defection and remain confident in the unity and commitment of the members of the Assembly to the APC.
About The Author
