Pauline Tallen: abandons PDP for APC

Mrs Pauline Tallen, a former minister and also former Plateau Deputy Governor, and six former Commissioners and Special Advisers (SAs), on Wednesday announced their decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defectors were formally received into the APC fold at a heavily crowded APC gubernatorial rally held at Nefur Arena, Pankshin Local Governemnt Area of the state.

Tallen, who contested for the governorship election under the platform of Labour Party (LP) in 2011, had in December joined the PDP before cross carpeting to APC.

Other defectors included Mr Nuhu Gagara, former Commissioner for Information; Nangin Bagudu, former Commissioner for Works; Mr Joel Gwatau, former Commissioner for Environment; and Na-Allah Mutfwang, former Commissioner for Agriculture.

The rest were Mr Zakaria Gosham, Mr Dan Manjang and Mr Luka Fwangyi, who served Gov. Jang as Special Advisers and Head of Service (HOS), respectively.

Receiving the defectors, Mr Zakari Idi, APC Vice Chairman, North Central Zone, expressed happiness for their decision to join the party.

“We believe that by your coming to join us in APC, you will work tirelessly for the party’s victory at all levels in the forth coming general elections, “ Idi said.

In her remarks, Tallen pledged to work for the victory of the APC and its gubertaorial candidate, Mr Simon Lalong as well as the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Mahammadu Buhari, in next month’s elections.

“I left PDP because of the injustice, corruption and insensitivity of leaders of the party in the state and hope to effect the necessary change in APC, “ she said.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the crowd at the APC rally was high.