‘It’s Unlawful’ — PDP Cautions Matawalle Against Defecting To APC

*As Yari Welcomes Matawalle Defection To APC

Zamfara former governor and leader of All Progressives Congress
in the state, Abdulaziz Yari, has welcomed the decision of current
governor Bello Matawalle to decamp from the People’s Democratic
Party to APC.

But the PDP has warned that Matawalle’s defection amounts to him
vacating his office and legislative positions.

Matawalle is to be received officially by the national
leadership of the party in Gusau on Tuesday.

Yari while addressing the APC Stakeholders from all the Local
Government of the state at a meeting in Kaduna said the party
welcomes Matawalle into the party alongside his supporters but that
he and other stakeholders are still holding meetings to see how
every member of the party will be treated fairly.

“We will not take any position without our people’s consent that
is why we invited all the stakeholders to make a stand. We will not
decide on anything that will not be of benefit to the party as well
as the state.

” We agreed that the Governor is coming with authority while we
have the population in the state. So we hope and pray that his
coming to the part will be beneficial and will add value to the
party in the state. So, he is welcome,” he said.

In his remarks, former Governor of the state, Alhaji Mamouda
Shinkafi described matawalles decamping as a blessing to the party
and state.

But the PDP has cautioned Matawalle to know his plans amount to
a decision to vacate office.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Kola
Ologbondiyan, gave the warning at a press conference at the PDP
National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Monday.

“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,” he said.

“The PDP also cautions members of the National Assembly as well
as members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, not to 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 the 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.

*As Yari Welcomes Matawalle Defection To APC

Zamfara former governor and leader of All Progressives Congress
in the state, Abdulaziz Yari, has welcomed the decision of current
governor Bello Matawalle to decamp from the People’s Democratic
Party to APC.

But the PDP has warned that Matawalle’s defection amounts to him
vacating his office and legislative positions.

Matawalle is to be received officially by the national
leadership of the party in Gusau on Tuesday.

Yari while addressing the APC Stakeholders from all the Local
Government of the state at a meeting in Kaduna said the party
welcomes Matawalle into the party alongside his supporters but that
he and other stakeholders are still holding meetings to see how
every member of the party will be treated fairly.

“We will not take any position without our people’s consent that
is why we invited all the stakeholders to make a stand. We will not
decide on anything that will not be of benefit to the party as well
as the state.

” We agreed that the Governor is coming with authority while we
have the population in the state. So we hope and pray that his
coming to the part will be beneficial and will add value to the
party in the state. So, he is welcome,” he said.

In his remarks, former Governor of the state, Alhaji Mamouda
Shinkafi described matawalles decamping as a blessing to the party
and state.

But the PDP has cautioned Matawalle to know his plans amount to
a decision to vacate office.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Kola
Ologbondiyan, gave the warning at a press conference at the PDP
National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Monday.

“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,” he said.

“The PDP also cautions members of the National Assembly as well
as members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, not to 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 the 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.