By JAMES KWEN, Abuja and IDRIS SALISU, Gusau
The ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State has won all the 14 Local Government Chairmanship and 147 Councillorship seats in the local government election that was held on Saturday.
The chairman, Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission, ZASIEC, Bala Aliyu Gusau, made the announcement at the commission’s headquarters on Sunday in Gusau the state capital.
The chairman electoral body immediately after announcing the result, issued certificates of return to the 14 local government elected chairmen.
Meanwhile, party stalwarts and constituents at the weekend trooped out in solidarity with the member representing Gumi/Bukkuyyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, Hon. Suleiman Abubakar Gumi who defected from PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gummi, had on October 31 dumped PDP for APC, citing unresolved internal and external crisis within his former party as the reason for the defection, according to a letter read on the House of Representatives by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
The rally which lasted over five hours was like a civic reception for the new political kingpin into the broom party in Zamfara with supporters brandishing APC flags and emblems in the streets of Gumi.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the event, said he was spurred by that show of solidarity to attract more dividends of democracy to his people, adding that it was a pointer to the fact that he was at home with his constituents.
“What we witnessed today is just remarkable. I was also taken by surprise by the good gesture by my people because if you decamp from another party I think you always leave some people behind, but in this case, you see the whole town decamped with me from PDP to APC, which is just a joyous moment. And the message I passed to them is that politics is about people, it’s about representing people and doing what is right for the people, and offering justice and fairness to everyone.
“That is the message I passed across to all the politicians in my zone, that the way forward is not waiting till election time that you give out money, but be kind to the people, be just to them as you execute your official engagement and by doing so, people will always align with you,” Gummi said.
He however disagreed that the move was not about calculations for the 2027 general election but steps towards being in the right camp to bring development to his constituency, the reason they voted him into the National Assembly.