Three members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, citing alignment with the state government’s leadership.
The legislators are Henry Mara of Jaba Constituency, Emmanuel Kantiok, Zonkwa Constituency, and Samuel Kambai, Zango Constituency, all announced their decision on Thursday in their respective wards.
In separate phone interviews, they attributed their defection to Governor Uba Sani’s governance, which they believe has significantly impacted the state.
Their move follows a similar defection by Amos Magaji, the lawmaker representing Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, just two days earlier.
According to the lawmakers, joining the ruling party would enhance their ability to serve their constituents effectively.
Mara described the shift in Southern Kaduna’s political landscape as inevitable, saying that the PDP’s long-standing dominance in the region is weakening.
He hinted at the possibility of more defections from the opposition party.
Kambai, on his part stated that Governor Sani’s achievements had transformed the perception of the APC, reducing hostility toward the party and diminishing the opposition’s influence.
According to him, “Southern Kaduna has historically supported the PDP but Governor Sani’s leadership is reshaping that trend.”
Kantiok acknowledged the security challenges that plagued Kaduna in previous years but credited the governor’s efforts for the relative peace now experienced and vowed to support initiatives that sustain the progress recorded so far.
With these defections, the balance of power in the Kaduna State House of Assembly may continue to shift in favor of the APC.
