Defeated Borno APC Senatorial Aspirant Defects to PDP

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Defeated senatorial aspirant in Borno South on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Idris Durkwa, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Durkwa, who had in 2019 contested the Borno State gubernatorial seat on the platform of the same party and lost to Prof. Babagana Zulum, had alleged during the last election that he was shortchanged.

Speaking to journalists immediately after his defeat, he said: “The whole exercise was a charade, and characterised by electoral irregularities and imposition, that produced the incumbent Senator Ali Ndume as candidate.”

He claimed that lack of respect and non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act provisions by the powers-that -be within the Borno State APC, which culminated into a shady and dictatorial tendencies during the last two weeks House of Assembly and senatorial primaries, particularly what played out in Southern Borno Senatorial District, where many delegates as well as teaming APC supporters were disenfranchised from exercising their democratic participation in the whole exercise, informed some parts of the reasons for his defection to the PDP.

He equally cited that the political narratives in Southern Borno Senatorial District need urgent change for people of the constituency to feel the dividends of democracy.

Speaking to journalists yesterday on why he decided to opt out from APC, a party he was widely believed to have contributed immensely towards it’s advancement, Durkwa said, “as a democrat, a time has come for me and my teaming supporters to join forces with the major opposition party (PDP) which is determined to wrest power come 2023, especially in southern Borno Senatorial District. Majority of our people in the constituency are glaringly clamouring for change, in view of the poor representation by their lawmaker at the National Assembly in the past decade, and that is what informed my decision.

“I had the privileges and also had an interface with many people from the nine local government areas that constituted Southern Borno Senatorial District, especially during my tour and consultations with delegates, stakeholders and teaming APC members. Unfortunately, I have seen the shedding tears on their faces as a result of lack of quality education, healthcare, decay in social infrastructures such as lack of boreholes, electricity, and the increasing poverty and joblessness amongst youths and the women folk. All these can be attributed to lack of proper representation by good leaders. In fact these narratives have to be changed,” Durkwa lamented.

He said that he defected to his new party early this week, after which, he has since been issued with his PDP membership card with registration number: 012 and INEC -Voters’ Identity Number, VIN: A25622408 in Shaffa Ward, Hawul Local Government Area of the state, that was duly signed by the chairmen and secretaries at his respective Ward, local government, state and national level.

“I have formally come to pay my respect to the PDP which is the only opposition party to beat come 2023 general elections. I didn’t join the PDP alone, but I moved in with all my teaming supporters across the 27 local government areas of Borno State.

“I and my teaming supporters are going to contribute in our maximum way to ensure that the our Presidential candidate, the former Vice President of Nigeria, (GCON), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and indeed all our candidates vying for various political positions on the platform of our great party win with unprecedented victory come 2023.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank all my teaming supporters who have also joined the promising and the unstoppable train, in continuation of their unflinching/maximum support and cooperation to ensure we all reach the promised land,” he stated.