APC SPLIT IN NIGER, TWO TOP GOV’S AIDE DEPART FOR PDP

Following the departure of two of the governor of the state, Abubakar Sani Bello’s senior aides, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there appears to have been a significant split inside the Niger State All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alhaji Idris Abubakar Azozom, the governor’s political advisor for the Niger East senatorial zone, and Mr. Ibrahim Ebbo, the governor’s political advisor for the Niger South senatorial zone.

In separate letters to their party leadership at the local government and ward levels last week, the two top aides announced their departure from the ruling party.

Azozo said that his decision to leave the APC was motivated by personal matters. Azozo served as the director-general of the Malagi Campaign Committee during the APC gubernatorial primary election.

He also acknowledged his switch from the APC to the PDP and promised to provide a detailed statement “very soon.”

When the PDP’s presidential and gubernatorial campaign committees were inaugurated over the weekend at the state party office, Ibrahim Ebbo was introduced.

The communications officer for the

The defection of the pair from the APC was referred to as “a severe blow to the ruling party” by the chairman of the governorship campaign committee, Mr. Mohammed Yahaya.

Yahaya also stated that Ababukar Dan Usman, a relative of Governor Bello, had submitted his resignation to the APC branch in the Kontagora LGA, however this could not be verified right away.

“Azozo is warmly welcomed into the fold,” he added, noting that the party would profit from his breadth of knowledge and lengthy service to the government.