By Samson Obande,  Lafia

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and the APC 2027 governorship candidate, Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, have received members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the ten electoral wards in Wamba Local Government Area into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors, led by Alhaji Abdullahi Attajiri, were received by the governor and other APC leaders at the VIP Lodge in Akwanga Local Government Area on Saturday, in a development that further expands the party’s membership in Wamba ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Sule, who is also the APC candidate for Nasarawa North Senatorial District, said the decision by the defectors was significant, particularly as they came from wards where the party had faced strong competition in previous elections.

He said his administration had continued to implement projects and programmes across the state without discriminating on the basis of political affiliation, including in areas where the APC did not receive electoral support.

The governor cited road projects linking communities in Wamba and neighbouring areas, payment of WAEC fees for students and recruitment of qualified teachers as examples of the government’s policy of fairness.

He said the state government had, for the past three years, paid 100 per cent of WAEC examination fees for students across the state, irrespective of their political affiliation or background.

On teacher recruitment, the governor said the process was based on qualification and competence rather than party membership, adding that communities across the state had benefited from the exercise.

Governor Sule urged the new members to work with existing APC members and contribute to strengthening the party at the grassroots.

He said the APC would mobilise support for all its candidates in the 2027 elections, from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly candidates.

The governor also announced that 2,000 women from Wamba Local Government and Farin Ruwa would benefit from the state government’s plan to support the purchase of Dangote Refinery shares.

He said the beneficiaries would be selected on the basis of need and without discrimination on political, religious or other grounds.

Wadada, while welcoming the defectors, said their decision followed their assessment of developments in the state.

“Engineer A.A. Sule is a blessing to all of us,” he said, adding that the governor had not asked the defectors to leave their former party but had attracted them through his record in office.

Wadada said the APC would welcome the new members and work with them to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Also speaking, APC candidate for Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency, Tony Bala Shammah, said the development showed growing support for the APC in the area.

He attributed the development to the administration’s projects and efforts to maintain security across the state, expressing the hope that Wadada would consolidate the gains recorded under Governor Sule.

The Deputy Chairman of the APC in Nasarawa State, Hon. Jatau Kunda, who is from Wamba, formally received the defectors into the party and urged them to work with existing members to strengthen the APC at ward and local government levels.

The event was attended by APC leaders, political office holders, supporters and other stakeholders from across Nasarawa North Senatorial District.I have also kept Wamba as the political home of the defectors throughout, while identifying Akwanga as the location of the reception.