Taraba Assembly Speaker, 15 Others Dump PDP For APC

The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzena has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing national-level factionalisation within the PDP.

Bonzena also revealed that 15 other PDP lawmakers have submitted letters to defect to the APC.

The lawmakers include Deputy Speaker, Hamman Adama Abdullai (Bali 2 Constituency); Majority Leader, Jethro Yakubu (Wukari 1); Tafarki Eneme (Kurmi), Akila Nuhu (Lau), Musa Chul (Gassol 1), and Josiah Yaro (Wukari 2).

Others are Tanko Yusuf (Takum 1), Veronica Alhassan (Bali 1), Anas Shuaibu (Karim Lamido 2), Nelson Len (Nguroje), Umar Adamu (Jalingo 1), Joseph Kassong (Yorro), John Lamba (Takum 2), Happy Shonruba (Ardo-Kola), and Zakari Sanusi (Ibi).

The speaker stated that the decision was not personal but rather aimed at the collective interest of the State.

“Our people should not misinterpret this decision of ours. It is in the state’s interest. We now have all 24 members of the House as members of the APC.

“We also want the people of Taraba to see this as the best decision for the state, and they should continue to support the government,” he said.

Former Speaker and Mbamnga Constituency lawmaker, Peter Diah, welcomed Bonzena and the other defectors into the APC.

Bonzena noted that the Assembly had been accommodating when they were in the minority, but expressed delight that all members have now aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision.