Defection: I Won’t Deny My Deputy His Rights – Aliyu

Niger State governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu

Niger State governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said despite the defection of his deputy, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), he remains the deputy governor of the state.

He also said that Ibeto’s rights and privileges would not be infringed on.

Several media reports indicate Ibeto and over 300 officers of the state on Monday dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC and attended the presidential rally of the party‘s flag bearer for next month’s election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

The deputy governor hinged his defection on irreconcilable differences and the refusal of the national leadership of the party to address the anomalies that characterized the governorship primaries won by the former Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Umar Nasko.

Aliyu spoke shortly after he collected his Permanent Voters Card (PVC) at the Tunga Primary School, Tunga, Minna, on Tuesday.

The governor said his deputy reserves the rights to determine who and what groups he wants to join, adding that his defection does not make any difference.

“Everybody has the right to decide which group to belong to. He is a deputy governor, he will continue to enjoy all rights and privileges due to his office,” the governor told journalists.