No fewer than 17 chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and their supporters defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Adamawa on Tuesday.

The PDP chieftains include Ahmed Gulak, the Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Felix Tangwami, Chief Medan Teneke, Alhaji Sahabo Aliyu and Alhaji Saidu Aliyu.

Other defectors were Chief Lazarus Gugu, Alhaji Mustafa Maigari and Alhaji Yusuf Dan-Umma, among others.

Gulak, who addressed supporters at the event in Yola said they left the PDP with their 42,000 supporters “because of the impunity in the party.

“It is time for us to register formally as APC members. It is time to formally bury PDP in Adamawa.”

Gulak noted that the APC government at all levels had done a lot for Adamawa and the North East in general.

According to him, the APC constitution, which provides equal opportunity to both old and new members, proves to them that the party is the most democratic in Nigeria.

“Take us as equal partners; take us as your brothers and sisters. In APC you don’t need waiver if you are a new comer to contest any position,” Gulak said.

Receiving the defectors, the North East National Vice Chairman of APC, Alhaji Mustafa Salihu said the development was a big boost for the party.

Salihu said APC remained the party to beat particularly in the north east and assured the new members of equal opportunities in the party.

“You are our twin brothers; it’s just that we left PDP to join APC before you. Now that you have realised the impunity we earlier realised in PDP and decided to quit and join us, we welcome you.”

Salihu lauded the state leadership of the party and the state APC-led government for recording such a big catch of prominent opposition party leaders in a swoop.

Highlight of the occasion was the issuance of party members cards to Gulak and others chieftains. (NAN)

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