From Mu’awiya Bala Idris, Katsina
Two serving members of the House of Representatives from Katsina State have rejected the outcome of the recently concluded consensus arrangement within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and announced their defection from the party.
The lawmakers are Hon. Dalhatu Tafoki, representing Kankara/Faskari/Sabuwa Federal Constituency, and Hon. Sani Lawal of Baure/Zango Federal Constituency.
Hon. Tafoki has officially defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Hon. Lawal is yet to announce the political party he intends to join.
Our correspondent reports that Tafoki was rejected by party stakeholders and replaced with Hamza Faskari, a former Commissioner for Environment, as the APC consensus candidate for the constituency.
Similarly, Daha Umar Faruk, District Head of Baure and son of the Emir of Daura, emerged as the APC consensus candidate, replacing Hon. Lawal.
The Triumph gathered that two other serving members of the House of Representatives from the state who failed to secure APC tickets may also defect from the party, as they continue to insist on the use of direct primaries for the emergence of candidates.
The lawmakers are Hon. Ahmed Yusuf Ibrahim of Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency and Engr. Bashir Gardi, representing Dandume/Funtua Federal Constituency.
Both lawmakers have reportedly purchased expression of interest forms to contest in the party primaries despite failing to emerge as consensus candidates.
Political observers believe the outcome of the APC consensus arrangement could deepen internal divisions within the party unless urgent reconciliation efforts are initiated to address the grievances of aggrieved members.
