By Raphael Ekpang
Ahead of October 19, local government elections in Kaduna State, a member representing Zango Kataf/Jaba federal constituency at the 10th assembly, Hon Amos Magaji has said that defection or no defection does not decide the fate of an election.
Hon Magaji who spoke with journalists on Thursday in Abuja following some pocket of defections from other political parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC said that the defection media reports were done one-sided, adding those defeating from APC to other parties were not reported.
“Defection is normal but the media reports so far in Kaduna ‘s defections are one sided, you are not reporting those leaving APC to other parties.
“Some people if they don’t move to other parties they will stay there and cause havoc in the party, while some may stay there but won’t vote for the party’s candidate because they are having sympathy for the other party’s candidate : he said.
However, he said those defecting are mostly politicians and who constitute a very insignificant number in a voting population. He said, some of them defecting are not card carrying members of their former parties.
He explained that elections are won based on the sympathy electorates have on a political party or the candidate. Because, according to him, most of the electorate are students, farmers, professionals, civil servants, women and youths who have nothing to do with partisan politics.
Though, he admitted that the local government councils elections are coming at a time his party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is trying to conduct their state elections in all levels, and he would have preferred it comes at a better time than this, but he said, “We are good to go “.
Reacting to rumourse making the round that following the gale of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress, he was also thinking of crossing over, he said, never has he thought, or is he thinking even in the nearest future to leave his party the PDP.
He noted that since he came into politics he has remained in his party, but as a representative of his constituency he sees every one as his own and he reaches out to them as at when due irrespective of political affiliation.
So, he said if meeting the needs of his constituents who are members of other political parties is seen as a way of planning to dump his party then its laughable.
He added, there’s no doubt a lot of parties wished they could have him as their candidate in the previous elections but unfortunately they couldn’t because they know he is an unadulterated PDP member.
On his representation at the National Assembly, Magaji posited that with the help of God he is not disappointing his constituents, saying that he is in touch with them all the time with project execution, rendering of assistance accordingly such as relief materials, giving scholarships to students and so on.
At the National Assembly, he admitted that he has been very vibrant with his legislative work of sponsoring bills and carrying out oversight functions as appropriate of a federal lawmaker.
