In a dramatic political shift, yesterday, Governor Dikko Umar Radda made a surprise appearance at the House of Representatives to witness the defection of three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers from Katsina State to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

  The governor arrived at the Green Chamber at exactly 11:10 a.m. in the company of his immediate predecessor, Ibrahim Shema, and was formally ushered in by the House leadership. He was at the chamber to witness the formal announcement of defection of the lawmakers by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen.

   The defected members are Balarabe Dabai, representing Bakori/Danja Federal Constituency; Iliyasu Abubakar, representing Batsari, Safana and Dan-Musa Federal Constituency, and Salisu Yusuf, representing Mashi/Dutse Federal Constituency.

   In their separate letters, the lawmakers cited “division and crisis within the PDP” both at the state and national levels as reasons for their decision to join the APC.

   Shortly after reading their defection letters, Speaker Abbas acknowledged the presence of Governor Radda, who stood to lead the new APC members for a ceremonial handshake with the Speaker and other top members of the House leadership.

  The governor departed shortly after the brief exchange, leaving behind a buzz of renewed political alignment in the chamber. Yesterday’s defections were part of a broader trend in the House, which has seen a steady wave of decampments of lawmakers from the PDP and Labour Party (LP) to the ruling APC in recent weeks. Just two days earlier, six federal lawmakers from Delta State dumped the PDP for the APC, while two LP members from Enugu State defected to the PDP.

  Majigiri said:  “This decision has become necessary due to irreconcilable differences and the high level of chronic crisis without cure currently plaguing the PDP, which has adversely affected its ability to ensure cohesion and deliver on its mandate.”

   The defectors lauded Radda’s leadership style, and President Bola Tinub, whose governance approach, they said, influenced their decision to align with the APC.

   “I am convinced by the exemplary leadership style of our governor, which is anchored on transparency, accountability, and people-oriented projects,” Ruma said.