Former councillors, vice chairmen, secretaries and supervisory councillors in Niger State have dismissed reports that about 50 former council officials defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They described the claim as misleading and propaganda.
The former council officials, under the aegis of the 2008 to 2011 and 2011 to 2014 Joint Forum of Former Councillors, Vice Chairmen, Secretaries and Supervisory Councillors, Niger State, made the clarification at an emergency meeting held in Minna on Tuesday.
The forum said only about seven former councillors and one former council chairman from Niger South had recently defected to an opposition party, insisting that the reported figure of about 50 defectors was inaccurate.
In a statement signed by its Secretary, Hon. Hamisu Jankaro, and Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ibrahim Yahaya Katcha, the group said no meeting of its members had been held anywhere to approve or announce mass defection from the APC.
“We disassociate ourselves completely from such insinuation. It is the handiwork of mischief makers and opposition elements who are threatened by the monumental achievements and growing popularity of the APC in Niger State,” the statement said.
The forum declared that the overwhelming majority of its members remained committed members of the APC, stressing that the party remained their political home.
“APC is our home yesterday, today and tomorrow,” the former council officials said.
The group also passed a vote of confidence in Niger State Governor, Rt. Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago, praising his administration's policies and programmes.
The former councillors described Bago's leadership as transformational and said his administration's “New Niger” agenda had brought improvements in infrastructure, agriculture, urban renewal and youth empowerment.
They particularly commended the governor's farmer-focused policies, saying his administration had restored confidence in governance and provided former councillors and grassroots politicians with a greater sense of belonging.
The group pledged to continue supporting the governor and his administration beyond 2027.
The forum further reaffirmed its support for the leadership of the APC at the national, state and grassroots levels.
It pledged loyalty to the party's leadership, including the Niger State APC Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Musa Bobi, as well as senatorial and local government leaders.
The former council officials urged APC members across the state to remain calm and disregard any list circulating on social media or elsewhere purporting to identify them as defectors.
“We are grassroots mobilizers. We were the ones who went house-to-house to sell APC. We are still on that duty,” the statement added.
The forum declared that it would continue mobilising support for the APC at the ward level, particularly in Niger South.
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