Eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly who resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are set to return to the party after meeting President Bola Tinubu.
The lawmakers were led to the meeting by Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, according to a statement issued on Monday by Ahmad Dan-Wudil, media aide to the former governor of Zamfara.
Dan-Wudil said during the sit-down, the lawmakers reaffirmed their loyalty and commitment to the APC and Tinubu.
“Following the meeting, Minister Matawalle pledged to integrate the lawmakers into the Tinubu Again Movement, to work collectively for President Tinubu and all APC candidates ahead of the forthcoming elections,” the statement reads.
The legislators left the ruling party early this month, citing worsening insecurity, alleged injustice and unpaid salaries and allowances.
The lawmakers are Aliyu Kagara, representing Talata Mafara south; Ibrahim Bakura, representing Bakura; Faruk Dosara, representing Maradun I; and Bashir Masama, representing Bukkuyum north.
Others are Muktaru Kaura, representing Kaura north; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru north; Bashar Bello, representing Bungudu west; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.
Bilyaminu Moriki, speaker of the Zamfara state house of assembly, subsequently said the lawmakers were suspended from the parliament long before they defected.
Moriki said the lawmakers were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, mischief, contempt of the house, and convening an illegal sitting in breach of the assembly’s standing orders.