By David Odama
Mass exodus of members of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP allegedly hits the Nasarawa state chapter of the party following the defection of a Chieftain of the Party, John Mamman and thousands of his supporters to the All Progressives Congress APC in the state.

New PDP Faction: From Left, New National Secretary and Former Governor of Osun State Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu, Kwara State Governor Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amechi , New PDP Factional National Chairman Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kawankwazo and Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido at Press conference announcing new PDP Factional Leadership in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.

Mamman, a retired Permanent Secretary and other members of PDP announced this Sunday at a reception organised in his honour by the executives and members of APC in Kokona Local Government Area of the state.

Mamman while addressing the mammoth crowd and followers said he has been a long standing “general’’ of the PDP in the state.

According to him, him, “I joined PDP in May 1998 and never considers defecting to any political party since then.

He however said the time has come for him to move away from PDP, adding that the APC under President Muhammadu Buhari was a better option for him.

“We choose to join the APC due to the developmental strides of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Tanko Al-Makura which have direct impacts on the lives of the people’’, Mamman declared.

The retired Permanent Secretary also said joining the APC would provide him and thousands of his supporters the chance to contribute their quota to the development of the state in particular and the country at large.

Mamman, while pledging their unalloyed loyalty to the party, said him and his teeming supporters would work for the victory of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

“we want to assure you that APC family has accepted me and other supporters and we have also agreed to work for APC in Nasarawa State, Kokona and my ward, Dari electoral ward.

“First, our desire to join the APC stems from the fantastic record of performance of both President Buhari and Gov. Al-Makura.

“Secondly, we have done this due to the fact that we need to contribute our quota to the development of the country, you can only do it from within because if you are outside, you cannot do it.

“We will work for the APC, God knows that we will work for the party and we will do it to the best of our ability’’, Mamman said.

Earlier, Alhaji Abdullahi Odeh, the APC Chairman, Dari electoral ward said the reception was organised in order to welcome an illustrious son and his steaming supporters to the party.

“We were overwhelmed with the defection of Mamman’s to the party and this shows a total collapse of the PDP in the local government and the state in general.

Odeh therefore, called on the party supporters in the area to continue to work tirelessly for the victory of the party especially now that their leader had returned to the party.

The occasion was attended by the state Deputy Governor, Slias Ali Agara, Sen.Abdullahi Adamu amongst others.