Gombe lawmaker dumps APC, says more members on the way

The gale of defections from the All Progressive Congress (APC) has continued to hit the ruling party in Gombe State as a former majority leader in the State House of Assembly, Markus Samuel, tendered his resignation on Thursday morning.

Just within the week, a member, Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, also brought to an end his short stay with the APC in a resignation letter that was widely circulated by him.

This is just as a handful of aides to the governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, and some party members resigned from the government and the party recently.

An impeccable source from the state legislature said the latest defection “is just a tip of the iceberg” as no fewer than five APC members in the House have concluded plans to dump the ruling party.

Confirming his resignation letter in a telephone interview with our correspondent, Markus Samuel, who represents Pero-Chonge Constituency in the State House of Assembly, said he took his time without any duress to jot down his exit letter from the party.

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“I have also called His Excellency the Governor to inform him about my issues and why I am checking out of the party,” he said.

He also confirmed that more APC members in the House will soon announce their departure from the ruling party.

It would be recalled that the APC Publicity Secretary in Gombe State, Mr. Moses Kyari, while reacting to the gale of defections from the ruling party, last Tuesday waved the defections as an exhibition of desperation to contest elections by a few members.

Kyari said the party was not moved or worried a bit by what he described as the “actions of desperadoes”.

He added that the APC has concluded all arrangement to receive thousands of well-meaning masses into their fold from the 114 electoral wards of the state.

He said: “A political party is just like a market where there are entry and exit points.

“If you are leaving, don’t cause confusion behind. Exit peacefully, we can’t stop you. If you are leaving today, 10 people are coming in, so why do we need to worry? The party has been strategizing behind the scenes.”

ATTAH WILLIAMS

TheStar