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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, and a former senator, Kabiru Marafa, have joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Zamfara State PDP chairman, Bala Mande, announced the defection of the two former APC chieftains on Sunday, after a meeting in Gusau, state capital.
Mande said Yari and Marafa have agreed to work for the development of the PDP in the state, adding that a date for the reception of the duo will be announced soon.
The development put an end to the speculation surrounding the rumoured defection of Yari and Marafa from the APC to the PDP.
The duo has been at the centre of the leadership crisis in Zamfara APC, a situation that snowballed to the disqualification of the party at the 2019 polls.
The crisis worsened when Bello Matawalle, governor of the state, joined the APC from the PDP.
Owing to Matawalle’s defection, Marafa and Yari lost their leadership position in the state chapter of the party.
Marafa had in June last year said he would resist any attempt by the Matawalle to violate the terms of his defection to the APC.
Yari recently lost out of the APC national chairmanship race after key leaders of the party, including President Muhammadu Buhari, favoured the emergence of Abdullahi Adamu.