Fresh indications have emerged over a plot by the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Recall, that the ruling APC had on Thursday, extended its membership registration and revalidation exercise for another two weeks.
There have been talks about the planned defection of Governor Matawalle, following the judgement of the Supreme Court on the crisis that trailed the primary election of the APC in Zamfara State.
A former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima, had stated last year, that plans are on for Governor Matawalle to join the APC.
A source revealed that one of the factors that delayed the defection of the Governor, was the crisis rocking the APC in the North-West State.
Factions loyal to former Governor Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabir Garba Marafa, were reconciled in February, this year.
A source close to the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, confirmed the defection move.
He said: “The talks on Matawalle’s defection have gone far, but wait for him to formally announce it.”
Another source disclosed that Abdulaziz Yari and other Chieftains of the party in Zamfara State, have been notified.
“We were told that he will join our party this month. They also told us that the defection is sanctioned by the Presidency. Nocturnal meetings to finalise the arrangement are being held”, he said.
Ahead of the defection, it was gathered that Governor Matawalle met with top Officials of his administration in Zamfara State.
However, speaking to Journalists, the Publicity Secretary of the ruling PDP in the State, Alhaji Farouk Ahmad, dismissed the reports that Governor Matawalle intends to join the APC.
He said: “We are just hearing it from the grapevine as you do, but I can tell you that PDP as a party is not informed about the decision, so I cannot confirm anything to you.”
On his part, the Vice Chairman of the opposition APC in the State, Alhaji Sani Gwamna Mayanchi, said that they have not been officially contacted, and that the APC has nothing to say about it.
More news later…