Beginning of trouble for opposition party, as “True PDP” springs up in Zamfara

A group of aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members in Zamfara State, has formed a factionized to now be called “True PDP.”

Chairman of the faction, Bilyamin Badarawa, disclosed this at a media briefing in Gusau, the state capital on Friday.

In disclosing the factionalisation, Badarawa said: “This is to inform the general public that following some irregularities observed in our beloved party, the PDP in Zamfara, and as true and genuine members of the party, we have decided to form a faction named ‘True PDP’’’.

“We decided to form the faction to salvage the party from sinking and deteriorating under the chairmanship of Tukur Danfulani, especially considering the way and manner its affairs were being handled,’’ he said.

Badarawa alleged that the state PDP leadership under Danfulani has not accorded respect to members, elders and other patrons of the party.

“We suffered to ensure PDP won election in Zamfara and since then, we have been neglected by the leaders of the party who were in other political parties when we won the election.

“We are totally disappointed with the suspension of Faruku Shatiman-Rijiya, the state Publicity Secretary of the party,” Badarawa said.

He commended governor Bello Muhammad for his tireless efforts to rid the state of all form of criminality and banditry.

Reacting, the state PDP Secretary, Ibrahim Umar dismissed the group’s claim, saying that the state chapter of PDP remained intact under the leadership of Danfulani.

“As I speak with you, we don’t have crisis in the state PDP, therefore we are not aware of any faction in the state,’’ Umar said.

The DEFENDER reports that the new development in the state’s PDP is more a pointer to preparation of ground for a major defection that will soon befall the party that came to power only by help of court two years ago. Zamfara, since the inception of Fourth Republic, has been a progressive state from the All People’s Party (APP), All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), and All Progressives Congress (APC) and more likely to return from the conservative PDP to its place of progressive in 2023.

The crisis that is currently steering the PDP in the face in the state appears to be a vehicle for that to happen, as Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle has been wooed from all sides of the APC to join the governing party to continue his good work from after the next general elections.