PDP Warns Governor Matawalle Against Defecting To APC

Governor Bello Matawalle

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state has been warned by The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) else he will lose his seat.

The opposition party in a statement released by its spokesperson Kola Ologbondiyan stressed that no law allows Matawalle to defect to another party since he was elected on the platform of the PDP.

Members of the national assembly and the state house of assembly who were elected on PDP's platform were also warned against defecting as they risk losing their seats.

The PDP further disclosed that its national working commitee (NWC) has approved the dissolution of the Zamfara state executive council.

The Statement Read;

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is watching developments in Zamfara state as they concern reports of plans by the state governor, Bello Matawalle, to cross over to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The PDP categorically cautions Bello Matawalle to know that his plans amount to a decision to vacate office as no law allows him to cross over to any other party with the governorship mandate statutorily given to the PDP through the ballot box, as already established by the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the standing judgment of the Supreme Court.

“A combined reading of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution as the pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Faleke v INEC (2016) is clear in holding that it is the political party that stands for election, that votes scored in election belong to the political party and that the candidate nominated to contest at an election by his party, acts only as the agent of his party.

"Members of the national assembly and the state house of assembly should not allow themselves to be pushed into losing their seats as the provisions of the constitution is very clear in barring lawmakers from cross-carpeting, except in a situation of a division in the political party upon which platform they were elected.

“There is no division in the PDP to warrant to defection of any of our lawmakers.

“The PDP hopes that Bello Matawalle as well as members of the National and State Assembly from Zamfara state will take caution.”