Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley and 13 of his colleagues yesterday, resigned their membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in what is believed to be in preparation for the formal defection of the state governor , Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to the APC, too.
The resignation of the lawmakers from the PDP according to sources is to smoothen the path for the defection of the Adamawa State governor, who has been showing signs of possibly joining the APC for some time.
Fintiri and his associates have repeatedly given the indication that they may dump the PDP and join the APC, following the governor’s disagreement with other PDP governors at the last congress of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was also in the state to commission projects done by the Governor recently after which he was reported to have had some political discussions with Fintiri.
The expected defection of Fintiri will bring to 30, the number of APC controlled states in the country leaving the PDP with only three governors, Labour Party, one, Accord Party, one, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), one.
The speaker announced the resignation on the floor of the House during yesterday’s plenary.
Those whose resignation were announced alongside that of the Speaker include the Deputy Speaker, Mohammed Buba Jidjiwa (Jada- Mbulo), Kefas Calvin (Toungo), Bulus Geoffrey (Leko – Koma) and Haruna Jilantikiri (Madagali).
Others are Kefas Emmanuel, (Song), Ahmed Jingi Belel (Maiha), Hon. Moses Yerima Zah (Michika), Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno (Demsa), Pwamwakeno Mackondo (Numan), Adun John Alaba(Uba -Gaya), Bulus Kantom (Shelleng) as well as Hon. Musa Mahmud Kallamu (Mayo Belwa), Japhet Hammanjabu (Verre).
The member representing Lamurde state constituency, Bauna Myandiasa was conspicuously absent during the session.
Speaking to journalists on the development, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mahmud Kallamu said that those that resigned are making consultation with their people which will determine the political platform they may join soon.
Kallamu said the decision of Governor Umaru Fintiri would determie the next step they would take.
Also reacting to the move, Mohammed Abdullahi, the APC State publicity secretary, said that what is happening in the political arena shows President Bola Tinubu’s government is attracting all including members of the opposition.
Credit: Daily Trust (except headline)
