Former Information Minister and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku, said he planned no return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he described as an ’empty shell’ in the state.

According to the Director of Publicity, Maku Campaign Organisation, Zakari Edego, the former minister would not return because the PDP has lost steam in the state.

Labaran Maku: says PDP no longer exists in Nasarawa State

“Right now in Nasarawa State, the election is not between APC and PDP. It’s between APGA and APC. The PDP has lost its soul since the defection of Maku and it is evident in their campaign in Nasarawa State, which is like a funeral procession”, said Edego in a statement.

“The attention of the Maku Campaign Organisation has been drawn to a publication in the Daily Trust of 27th February, 2015 claiming that the APGA governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Mr. Labaran Maku, is planning to return to his former party, the PDP.

“The planted report in the Daily Trust Newspaper was the manifestation of the desperation in the PDP in Nasarawa State, having realised that the party has become an empty shell since Mr. Maku left to pursue his governorship ambition in APGA.

“In just two months of Mr. Maku’s defection to APGA, almost 65 per cent of the electorate have turned to Maku, making APGA the fastest-growing party in Nasarawa State.

“We have also noticed with dismay that some thugs were sent earlier to destroy the billboards of the APGA governorship candidate all over the state because of the huge popularity Mr. Maku is enjoying since their own candidate is highly unpopular.

“Thereafter, they went on air to spread lies in order to discourage the mass movement in Nasarawa State for the election of Mr. Labaran Maku as governor under APGA on April 11.

“But what the PDP in Nasarawa State don’t know is that they are making the people more angry against them and increasing public sympathy for the APGA governorship candidate and former Information Minister.

“On a serious note, all the major blocs in Nasarawa State are behind Maku right now. So, the best way for the PDP to remain relevant is to be part of Maku’s campaign as a mark of honour and respect for the person who kept PDP alive in Nasarawa State since 2011.

“The cause of the trepidation in both the PDP and APC in Nasarawa State is that the scenario has changed overnight with Maku poised to defeat both the APC and PDP in all the three senatorial zones!

“Right now in Nasarawa State, the election is not between APC and PDP. It’s between APGA and APC. The PDP has lost its soul since the defection of Maku and it is evident in their campaign in Nasarawa State, which is like a funeral procession.

“The only way for PDP to remain relevant in Nasarawa State is to support APGA since their own candidate, Yusuf Agabi, has no constituency to win elections in Nasarawa State.

“The truth is that Agabi was forced on us by the godfathers of Al-Makura in PDP, who wanted to make sure that APC remains in power in Nasarawa State.

“That explains why they hijacked the ticket from Maku who has the clout and the pedigree and gave it to a highly unpopular person so that APC would have a smooth ride to the Government House on Shendam Road.

“At any rate, with Maku’s defection, half the people moving with Agabi are actually in APGA.

“In the case of APC, it is a party that has collapsed. They have now resorted to planning violence to disrupt the election in Nasarawa state.

“The last hope for the people of Nasarawa is Maku in APGA.

That’s why the leaders of PDP in Nasarawa State have now resorted to lies and blackmail to see if they can turn the people away, and regain the momentum which they have since lost.

“We, therefore, call on all the people of Nasarawa State to ignore the lies and blackmail coming from the PDP in Nasarawa State.

“The election is about the people and not Maku. The masses should, therefore, continue the people’s movement for change on the 11th of April and overwhelmingly vote for Maku in APGA to liberate the state from the shackles of misrule, bad governance, violence, and poverty that have tormented Nasarawa State for years”.