Six Kano lawmakers mull defection with Kwankwaso to PDP

•Southwest NCP seeks withdrawal from merger with opposition
Six lawmakers in the Kano State House of Assembly have allegedly planned defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This is coming barely 24 hours after former Kano State governor; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso defected to the PDP, alongside 35 others in the National Assembly.

A source told The Guardian that those who are likely to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) include the lawmakers representing Dala, Gwale, Madobi, Gezawa, Gwarzo and Rogo constituencies.

When our correspondent contacted one of them on phone, Zubairu Mamuda Madobi, representing Madobi constituency he confirmed the move.

He however said that the final decision would be made public today.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Rural Development, Illiasu Musa Kwankwaso, declared that the defection of Senator Kwankwaso representing Kano Central, would never affect the chance of president Muhamadu Buhari and Governor Abdullahi Musa Ganduje in the 2019 general elections.

Meanwhile, the southwest caucus of the National Conscience Party of Nigeria (NCP) has asked its National Chairman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, to withdraw from the alliance with opposition parties.

This followed the accord it signed with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 38 other political parties to wrestle power from the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2019.

The alliance led to the formation of a Coalition of United Peoples Party (CUPP).

Lagos State chairman of the party, Fatai Ibu-Owo, said: “The attention of the NCP in the southwest zone had been drawn to a Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU), signed by our National Chairman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, with PDP and 38 other political parties.

“The MoU signed by the chairman without any consultation with any of the decision-making organs of our party gives the negative impression that we are a major player in the alliance of corrupt and anti-people parties’ elements.”

The party stressed that the national chairman’s alliance was against Article 4.2, subsection 4.2.2 and Article 9.3, subsection 9.3.1 and 9.3.2 of the party’s constitution.

The NCP in the southwest said it disassociated itself from the so-called alliance and unholy MoU.

“It was illegal and the sole decision of few elements, which acted on their own self-interests,” he said.

Ibu-Owo said the principles and constitution of NCP party are clear enough to serve as guide before taking any such decision, adding that so-called alliance is null and void.
He said Tanko did not show uprightness and transparency in the administration of the party.

He expressed concern that the members heard or read of the sensitive issue from the media.