Aliyu Tukur, the commissioner for budget and economic planning in Zamfara, has announced the resignation of his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tukur, who made the announcement on Friday while addressing journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara capital, disclosed that he has defected to the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The development comes less than three weeks before the general election.
The commissioner said it was the best decision and pledged his support to Dauda Lawal, the PDP governorship candidate in the state.
“I thank Almighty Allah for allowing me to announce my defection from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.
“I have been trying to defect for a while now and this was made possible due to the support I got from other members of the APC who have complained to me about some kind of discrimination in the party.
“I assured them something will be done about it. Before I decamped, I informed the governor and the former governor of my decision. It is time I use my sense and exercise my right to choose whomever I wish. This is why I accepted the advice of the people supporting me and I spoke with honourable Dauda Lawal, the PDP governorship candidate of Zamfara.
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“I saw the post by the APC about my defection to PDP. They claimed I did not follow the right steps, and I have already informed them of my plans. I want to assure you that it is not true. These things are unavoidable in politics.
“I want to inform the people of Zamfara and all my supporters that I have defected from APC to PDP. I believe in anything chosen for me by God and it is the best for me.
“I want to assure my people that I am together with Dauda Lawal, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Zamfara, and I pledge my support and pray that Allah grants him victory in the upcoming election.”