Ex-Zamfara Governor Yari, Senator Marafa Quit Ruling Party, Join PDP

By Derrick Bangura

Angered by their treatment in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, former governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, and Senator Kabiru Marafa, on Sunday, defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), forming a new political realignment ahead of the 2023 general election.
In a similar vein, former Minister of Information and Communication in the administration of erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Labaran Maku, joined PDP, and proceeded to declare interest in the 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State.

Both Yari and Marafa had objected to the defection of Governor Bello Matawelle from PDP to APC after he was made leader of the party in the state by a former chairman of the party’s caretaker committee and governor of Yobe State, Mai Bala Buni.
While Yari challenged this decision to no avail, he also enlisted to vie for the party’s national chairmanship but was forced to step down when President Muhammadu Buhari gave a clear indication that Senator Abdullahi Adamu was his preferred candidate.
The PDP chairman in Zamfara State, Colonel Bala Mande (rtd.), announced the defection of Yari and Marafa shortly after a stakeholders’ meeting in Gusau, the state capital. Mande said the party had finalised the issue of the defection of Yari and Marafa.
Angered by their treatment in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, former governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, and Senator Kabiru Marafa, on Sunday, defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), forming a new political realignment ahead of the 2023 general election.
In a similar vein, former Minister of Information and Communication in the administration of erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Labaran Maku, joined PDP, and proceeded to declare interest in the 2023 governorship election in Nasarawa State.

Both Yari and Marafa had objected to the defection of Governor Bello Matawelle from PDP to APC after he was made leader of the party in the state by a former chairman of the party’s caretaker committee and governor of Yobe State, Mai Bala Buni.
While Yari challenged this decision to no avail, he also enlisted to vie for the party’s national chairmanship but was forced to step down when President Muhammadu Buhari gave a clear indication that Senator Abdullahi Adamu was his preferred candidate.
The PDP chairman in Zamfara State, Colonel Bala Mande (rtd.), announced the defection of Yari and Marafa shortly after a stakeholders’ meeting in Gusau, the state capital. Mande said the party had finalised the issue of the defection of Yari and Marafa.