By Roseline Okafor, Lafia
Political activities in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have taken a new turn following the defection of former Karu Local Government Chairman and former APC House of Representatives aspirant, Hon. Joseph Maisamari Kaura, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Kaura explained his decision during an exclusive interview with journalists at his residence in Masaka, Karu Local Government Area, on Thursday.
He attributed his defection to what he described as a lack of internal democracy, discipline, sincerity and cooperation within the APC.
According to him, the conduct of the party’s last primary election, as well as what he termed the failure of the APC leadership to address grievances among members, influenced his decision to leave the party.
Kaura: I Informed Governor Sule Before Leaving APC
Kaura said he personally informed Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, of his intention to leave the APC before formally joining the SDP.
He said the governor was outside the country at the time of their conversation and that they discussed several issues concerning the political situation.
“Governor A. A. Sule was the first person I informed of my intention to leave the APC due to a lack of internal democracy,” Kaura said.
He added that although the governor responded to some of the issues raised during the conversation, there was no response when he informed him of his decision to defect.
According to Kaura, the silence suggested to him that his continued presence in the APC was no longer desired.
Why I Chose SDP
Explaining his decision to join the SDP, Kaura said he believed the party had the potential to make a strong showing in Nasarawa State.
“It is not a new political party. What the former IGP is doing now is just a replication of what MKO Abiola did in the past when he won his election,” he said.
Kaura expressed confidence that the SDP could produce the next governor of Nasarawa State, citing what he described as the popularity and empowerment programmes of the party’s candidate.
“I see the SDP as a party that can produce a governor in Nasarawa State because the candidate is marketable and capable, without equal, as evident in his empowerment programs across the state,” he said.
He maintained that he would have remained in the APC if the party had conducted what he considered a credible and transparent primary election.
“If proper primary elections had been conducted, I would have had no reason to leave the APC. Even Mohammed would still have remained in the party,” he said.
APC Abandoned Karu, Kaura Alleges
The former Karu council chairman also accused the APC leadership of neglecting Karu Local Government Area despite its significant number of registered voters.
He said the failure to establish a reconciliation committee to address grievances among aggrieved party members contributed to the growing dissatisfaction within the party.
“The APC has refused to set up a reconciliation committee to bring aggrieved members together. All they said was ‘to hell with you.’ I didn’t decide alone to contest the election. It was a collective decision with my people,” Kaura said.
He recalled his role in strengthening the APC in Karu, saying that in 2015, former Governor Tanko Al-Makura appointed him as the APC Minder in the local government.
Kaura said he subsequently led the party’s campaign in Karu, resulting in an APC victory.
“Since then, the APC has not won in Karu Local Government Area to date,” he said.
Kaura Commends Sule, Questions Karu Projects
Despite his criticism of the APC’s internal affairs, Kaura commended Governor Sule for what he described as transformative initiatives across various sectors of Nasarawa State.
However, he expressed concern over what he described as the absence of major government projects with direct impact on residents of Karu Local Government Area.
“My problem is: what has Karu done wrong to this government for not having projects that have a direct bearing on the people of Karu Local Government?” he asked.
He specifically cited the condition of Panda Road, which he said had remained neglected for decades.
“Look at Panda Road. It has been abandoned for decades,” he said.
Calls for Peaceful Campaigns
With political campaigns expected to commence on August 18, Kaura appealed to politicians and supporters across the state to embrace peaceful electioneering.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly8p8lpyvmo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
He urged political actors to conduct their campaigns responsibly and avoid actions capable of creating tension among communities and supporters.
Kaura’s defection is expected to add a new dimension to political calculations in Karu, an area considered strategically important because of its large voting population and proximity to the Federal Capital Territory.