Daniel Atori
Former Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state, Hon Jonathan Vatsa has joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state.
This is coming two weeks after he resigned from the ruling party in the state citing failed promises.
The former commissioner for Information Culture and Tourism joined the opposition SDP on Wednesday at his Gulu Anguwa-Gulu Vatsa ward in Lapai local government area of the state where he was issued the party membership card with number N10120100001 by the ward Chairman of the party, Adamu Mohammed Baba.
This brings to an end, speculations about his next political move after he announced his resignation from the ruling All Progressive Congress two weeks ago, accusing the party of betraying the trust of Nigerians.
In a well attended ceremony at party ward, the former publicity secretary of the APC in the state also announced the defection of over 200 members of his supporters from APC and PDP, cutting across the five wards of Azza to his new party.
The supporters are those from Evuti Pada, Ebbo Gbacheko, Muye Egba, Gupa Abuge and Gulu- Anguwan Gulu Vatsa word.
They said the resignation of Vatsa from the ruling All Progressive Congress was long overdue because the party has nothing to offer Nigerians except excuses for its failures.
The supporters therefore said that they have no choice than to following him to his new political party because has been a pillar, and has always carried them along in all his political decisions.
The ward Chairman of the party while presenting the membership card to the man he described as a “big fish” for the party, maintained that his contribution to the development of the area remained unequal.
“The decision you have taken today to leave APC is long overdue, it is a welcome development because the party has failed Nigerians.
“The party has further pushed Nigerians below the poverty line. People are merely struggling to survive and that is why Nigerians must vote them out in 2027.
“With your grassroots political experience and your contributions to the political development in the state, we are confident that SDP will take over the reign of power in Niger state in 2027.
“I must confessed the party has catched a big fish in the state. We look forward to you to give leadership direction to the party”, he added.
Also speaking, the ward youth leader of the party, Mallam Said Mohammed assured him that he will not regret joining the party because is amongst the oldest party today in Nigeria with massive structures waiting for people like him to make things happen.
Addressing the party members and supporters after obtaining his membership card, the former commissioner said his decision to join the SDP was informed by his conviction that the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Mohammed Mohammed Ndarani (SAN) is a man that can be trusted with leadership.
According to him “the governorship candidate means well for the state, and his track records of achievements makes him a man that can be trusted with power”.
He described the current leadership under the APC administration in the state as the worst since 1999, with nothing to show for enormous resources at its disposal.
He told the people that it is on record that while he was in the ruling party, he has remained very consistent in his criticism of the way and manner in which the government was being run with mismanagement public funds.
“This is a government that has enormous resources from the federal account, including loans yet you can not point to a single project worth #5billion and completed, adding that “I urged you all to get your Permanent Voters Card (PVC) ready to vote this government out in the state”, he said.
He reminded the people that political party does not make people, rather the people make political party, stressing that “with the support of you all that have decided to move along with me to SDP today, the party will soon stamp it’s authority in the state, and we will take over the government in 2027”.
