A Defection Storm in Buhari’s Senatorial Zone

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

According to Francis Sardauna, the political atmosphere in Katsina state’s Daura senatorial zone has become unpredictable in the last seven months due to the unfolding gale of defections in the political landscape.

Following the recent party primaries in Katsina State, many politicians, particularly those in elective positions and their supporters, have expressed dissatisfaction with allegations of being shortchanged and the perception that some political newcomers were unfairly favored in the process of nominating party candidates.

The flood of protests caused by party migration cut across the major political parties in the state, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and other opposition parties.

As a result, political officeholders and gladiators from these political parties had migrated from one party to another in protest of the use of ‘fake’ or ‘doctored’ delegates lists for the conduct of the state’s governorship, senate, House of Representatives, and state House of Assembly primary elections.

The Daura senatorial district, President Muhammadu Buhari’s constituency, has been hardest hit by the cross-carpet, with a serving senator representing the zone, Ahmed Babba Kaita, and a member representing the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’Adua federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Fatuhu Mohammed, abandoning the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kaita left the ruling party for the Peoples Democratic Party in April this year, citing the state government’s and the party’s leadership’s marginalization of critical stakeholders, as well as the government’s alleged failure to execute meaningful projects that will alleviate the plight of the state’s masses.

He also cited serial denial of the people’s mandate at recent state APC congresses, among other related developments, as reasons for leaving the ruling party with thousands of his supporters to join the PDP following extensive consultations with his people.

Political scientists consider Kaita to be the best performing senator in the state because his humanitarian projects span the senatorial zone’s 12 local government areas. His decision to join the PDP could be linked to his strong desire and opportunity to provide his people with much-needed democratic dividends. He has since received an automatic ticket in his new political party.

“I am not a bandwagon politician,” the senator said in a press statement. My exemplary and robust representation in the Nigerian Senate has earned the admiration of all, and has had significant, visible impacts on infrastructural and human capital development across the state’s three Senatorial zones. There is still room for improvement.

“The decision to join the Peoples Democratic Party represents the ideals of representation in the mandate, goodwill, and an even more determined desire and opportunity to provide succor, comfort, and the much-needed dividends of democracy to the people.”

The former House of Representatives member was elected to the 8th Senate in 2018 to fill the senatorial vacancy left by Senator Mustapha Bukar’s death. He was re-elected to the 9th Senate in 2019 after defeating his opponent at the time, Hon. Usman Mani Nasarawa. In the upcoming elections, Kaita will face off against the APC candidate, Hon. Nasiru Sani Zango.

Kaita’s supporters and political pundits argued that the senator possesses vast political experience, qualifications, and well-articulated structures in all political wards of the senatorial zone, based on the unprecedented number of people he received during his recent visit to Zango, his opponent’s hometown.

However, the recent resignation of President Buhari’s nephew and member representing Daura/Sandamu/Mai’Adua federal constituency at the lower chamber, Hon. Fatuhu Mohammed, came as a shock to party members, but also as a new political tsunami that may drag the seemingly untired broom and its supporters to an early grave in Buhari’s hometown.

“This is to notify you that I have resigned my membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect beginning Wednesday the 15th of July, 2022,” Mohammed said in a resignation letter addressed to the APC chairman of Sarkin Yara A Ward and copied to the Daura local government chairman and state chairman of the party. My Party Membership Registration slip with slip number KT/DRA/10/00002 is attached.

“While I thank you and the Party for the opportunity to serve the people of Daura/Sandamu/Mai’Adua Federal Constituency while working with the Party, please accept my best wishes.”

Although Mohammed, the son of late Mohammed Mamman Danfale, President Buhari’s elder brother, did not specify his next political move in his resignation letter, credible sources said the lawmaker has decided to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As a result of his alleged defection to the PDP, President Buhari will be represented in both the Senate and the House of Representatives by members of the main opposition party. Fatuhu’s resignation from the Buhari-led APC has caused consternation, particularly among party members.

“The recent resignation of Fatuhu Mohammed from the APC will not augur well for the party because he has hundreds of supporters who brought larger votes for the APC during the 2015 and 2019 elections in Daura zone,” said an APC chieftain who requested anonymity.

“Don’t forget that Senator Babba Kaita, a serving senator from Mr. President’s zone, has also joined PDP with many supporters from across the zone’s 12 local governments.” So it is better for the state’s APC leadership to get their house in order or lose the 2023 elections.”

Prior to his resignation, Mohammed had threatened to leave the APC in June, claiming that he had been shortchanged during the party’s primary election, which resulted in Aminu Jamo Daura being chosen as the party’s 2023 candidate for the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’Adua federal constituency.

In a six-minute viral audio, the legislator vowed not to run in a new election if the party decides to hold one, claiming that he won the primary election.

“They can’t hold any elections (primaries) because I won this one while they broke the law,” he said. They should just give me my ticket back, or we should go to court, or I will destroy the party and bring a new one (party).

“I can even bring the fruit party (NNPP) and they will only see the Kwankwaso party in Daura.” Yes, because everyone is fighting for himself, I can do it. They should visit the poor and tell them what they have done for them. I’ll also mention what I’ve done for the poor, and we’ll see who the (poor) choose.”

Hon. Aminu Ashiru Mani, a lawmaker from Buhari’s senatorial zone, has also defected from the ruling APC to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) after losing the party’s ticket during primaries. Mani is the current member of the House of Representatives representing the federal constituency of Bindawa/Mani in the green chamber.

Similarly, Hon. Ibrahim Zakari, the former special adviser to Governor Aminu Bello Masari on International Relations and Investments (2015 to 2019) and a native of Dutsi (Daura zone), defected from the APC to the NNPP before joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and emerging as the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in the state.

With the storm of defections currently raging in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hometown and constituency, political analysts believe the All Progressives Congress’ canoe is on the verge of capizing with its members in Katsina state if the owners and paddlers do not intervene.