Though it is in control of the Legislative arm of government, Bauchi State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the PDP led executive arm is coercing and inducing its members in the Assembly into joining the ruling PDP.
The allegation was made by the APC caucus lawmakers which controls the Bauchi 9th Assembly urging the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir to henceforth in the interest of peace and democratic tenets stop coercing, inducing the lawmakers into his party, PDP.
The lawmakers in a press release dated 7th April and made public with copies given to Journalists in Bauchi warned the Governor not to truncate the good relationship existing between the two arms despite the political party differences and affiliation.
The statement was signed by 16 members of the 17 listed on the document. The Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman did not append his signature to the release for yet to be ascertained reason.
The press release contained that, “It is disappointing that the government which has benefited from the goodwill, unconditional support and cooperation to achieve relative success, is now actively inducing, coercing and forcing the hand of some of our members to defect to the PDP with a view to diminish our majority in the House and to perpetrate sinister agenda against our beloved party ahead of the 2023 elections.”
The release further contained that, “We hereby note that this ugly line of action being taken by this government will be strongly resisted by the APC caucus and we assure our teaming supporters that we will not accept such breach of trust and betrayal of confidence by Sen. Bala Muhammed administration.
“We hereby reiterate our resolve to remain united in the face of this cowardly provocation and selfish move and to ensure our loyal party supporters that APC remains our party of choice and will continue to champion any positive interest of the good people of our dear state now and always,” the APC caucus further stated.
It added that, “APC holds the majority in the state House of Assembly whilst the PDP is of the minority. That advantage, which is significant, did not make us frustrate or undermine the programmes or direction of Sen.Bala Mohammed Administration. Instead, we put aside party differences and worked cooperatively with the government at all times to ensure its success, since it is the same people that elected us and we are serving same.
They said that governor Muhammed has on many occasions championed and expressed his satisfaction with clear gratitude to the legislative arm of the state in supporting his administration.
But in a swift reaction to the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters (State and National Assembly liaison), Sani Mohammed Burra said that the members are defecting to the ruling PDP as a result of the Governor’s performance in the state.
He said that “No one is coercing or inducing anybody. All I know is that some of them decided to join the PDP willingly based on the performances of the Governor so far. Every one of them has one project or program going on in his Constituency.”
Sani Mohammed Burra added that “Base on the projects that are initiated by the Governor, they are convinced. I was an elected member of that House and you know as a member, your goal is to bring developmental projects to your constituents. Most of them have certain projects they want the Governor to execute at their various local governments.”
He stressed that the Governor need not coerce nor induce any of the members in order to join the PDP saying that all over Bauchi State now, the party to beat is the PDP because the people have been able to regain the 4 years wasted by the APC led government.
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