Fifteen members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly have resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s prolonged internal crisis at the national level.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Speaker of the House, Bathiya Wesley, announced the development during plenary on Wednesday, revealing that he and his deputy, Buba Jijiwa, were among those who had left the party.
“All the resignation letters conveyed the same message,” Wesley said. “The lawmakers pointed to the prolonged crisis at the national level of the PDP as the main reason for their decision. They also expressed gratitude to the party for the opportunity to contest and win elections on its platform.”
Lawmakers who resigned include Kefas Calvin, Bulus Geoffrey, Haruna Jilantikiri, Kefas Emmanuel, Ahmed Belel, Moses Zah, Kate Mamuno, Pwamwakeno Mackondo, Adun Alaba, Bulus Kantom, Musa Kallamu, and Japhet Hammanjabu.
In a related development, Abubakar Abdullahi, who represents Girei State Constituency, also announced his resignation from the PDP on Tuesday.
Although the lawmakers have not formally declared their next political platform, reports indicate that many of them are preparing to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defections come amid speculation that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri is also considering a move to the APC. Last Saturday, the governor hosted APC leaders at an iftar gathering at the Government House in Yola, which he described as an opportunity to “strengthen dialogue, foster cooperation, and reaffirm a shared commitment to peace, stability, and sustainable development in Adamawa State.”
The wave of resignations is expected to significantly alter the political balance in the state assembly if confirmed defections to the ruling party materialise.
