PDP: Matawalle’s defection an unpardonable betrayal — he surrendered to intimidation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the defection of Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara state, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is an “unpardonable betrayal”.

Matawalle defected from the PDP to the APC on Tuesday.

Speaking on his defection, the governor of Zamfara had said: “I believe with this coming together, I’m going to work hard with my other colleagues so that we can get more from the federal government, particularly on the issue of insecurity.”

In a statement on Saturday by Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, the party said Matawalle’s statement further exposed that the APC was never committed to fighting insecurity but “fueling it for political gains”.

“The statement by Governor Matawalle further confirms that the APC has been promoting insecurity, particularly terrorism and kidnapping for ransom, in various parts of the country as a way to create an emergency situation to cover their atrocities, siphon public funds as well as intimidate and coerce state governors elected on the platform of other political parties to join their fold,” the statement reads.

While calling his defection an “unpardonable act of betrayal”, the party said from Matawalle’s statement, it is clear that he joined the ruling party out of intimidation.

“PDP holds that by this confession, it is therefore clear that Governor Matawalle did not defect to the APC because the Party has any democratic credential as erroneously claimed by the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but only surrendered to intimidation and cowardly joined those behind the killings and acts of violence in Nigeria,” the party said.

“Of course, the APC, as a party of political bandits, does not have any democratic credential to attract well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians.

“Governor Matawalle must however note that joining such individuals, who have brought so much anguish and pain to his people, is an unpardonable act of betrayal which will continue to act as an albatross particularly against the backdrop of his own vows.

“On the reclaiming of the governorship mandate, the PDP described Matawalle’s boast as the feeble kick of a disoriented and confused deserter, stressing that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is clear on the responsibilities of a deputy governor that finds himself under an absconding governor like Matawalle.”