At least 120 members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Gulu Ward, Lapai Local Government Area, Niger State, switched to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.

The former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism and a pillar of the ruling party in Niger State, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, welcomed the defectors at the APC ward secretariat in Gulu Vatsa. They left the PDP due to their dissatisfaction with State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s performance during the previous year.

“We decided to leave the opposition party and join the ruling party because the former commissioner has always identified with us despite our different political affiliations,” said the defectors, the majority of whom were young and female.

After years of banditry and other criminal activity, Ibrahim Liman, speaking on behalf of the other defectors, praised the state governor for resolving the security issues in their area and for bringing peace back to Gulu Vatsa.

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He said, “We are pleased with the governor’s performance during his last year in office, not because we were looking to get material advantage by joining the ruling APC. Despite our disagreements in politics, we are pleased with the rapport the former commissioner has kept with every member of the community.

“In order to eliminate opposition here, we will make sure that more people in our town become members of the party. That will encourage additional construction in this neighbourhood.

In response, Vatsa—the governor’s special advisor on public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives—reassured them that they wouldn’t regret choosing to join the state’s ruling party.

“The governor’s new agenda for Niger is real and not just a declaration,” he said. Because of Governor Bago’s proactive transformation of the state at all levels, we therefore implore other political parties in the state to recognise him as their only candidate for the governorship in 2027.