Over 1,600 supporters of Jigawa State’s ruling All Progressives Congress from Limawa wards in Dutse Local Government Area reportedly defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on Friday.
The defection took place at a rally in Limawa, Dutse, where a large crowd gathered.
Online learnt that hundreds of youths, men, and women, assembled with PDP flags as defectors, drawn from various wards, pledged allegiance to the opposition, citing unfulfilled promises.
Receiving the new members on behalf of the PDP state leadership, the deputy chairman of the party, Hon. Umar Danjani, who represented the chairman, said, “Welcome home to the PDP family. Your move strengthens our resolve to deliver real change for Jigawa.
“Limawa ward’s status as one of the strongest political strongholds of the ruling party in the state capital. Limawa has been APC’s bedrock, producing key allies like the Senior Special Assistant to the Jigawa State Government on Students Affairs and the current Member of the Jigawa State House of Assembly representing Dutse, alongside many other stalwarts — losing 1,600 from this place shakes APC’s foundation.
“1,600 strong from the APC? This shows the people’s hunger for inclusive governance that the APC has ignored. We don’t chase members; we empower them. Today, you join a party fighting for jobs, education, and security for all.”
He also urged unity, saying, “Together, we’ll reclaim Jigawa from neglect. Your defection is the first step toward victory.”
Earlier, the leader of the defectors, Umar Abubakar, popularly known as Young Danmodi, said, “We’ve left APC because it promised paradise but delivered pain, broken roads, idle youth, and empty pockets.
“Limawa is still an APC fortress, nurturing powerhouses like the SSA on Students Affairs and our member representing Dutse at the Jigawa State House of Assembly, plus loads of loyal supporters — yet despite these heavyweights, we hold firm hope of swaying countless other APC members and backers here to cross over to PDP for true deliverance.
“In Limawa and beyond, APC forgot us. No development, no listening — PDP offers hope we can trust.”
He told his followers, “Over 1,600 of us say no more! We’re here to work, vote, and win for Jigawa’s forgotten voices.”
As the event concluded, Abubakar said, “PDP, we’re yours now, let’s build the state our children deserve, not the one APC left in ruins.”
A few months ago, the APC received over 60,000 defectors from various opposition parties in a rally held in Dutse.