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‎BY AHMED AKANBI

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‎Former Chairman of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and House of Representatives aspirant in the last All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries, Hon Joseph Maisamari Kaura, has dumped the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

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‎Kaura, who spoke with journalists at his residence in Masaka, Karu Local Government Area, cited lack of internal democracy, discipline, sincerity and cooperation within the APC as reasons for his defection.

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‎He said he had informed Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, of his intention to leave, following what he described as a “shameful primary election” conducted by the party.

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‎According to him, the governor was overseas at the time and responded to some issues raised but made no comment on the planned defection.

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‎“I didn’t decide alone to contest the election. It was a collective decision with my people,” Kaura said.

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‎He further criticised APC leadership for failing to set up a reconciliation committee to address grievances, saying the party had abandoned aggrieved stakeholders.

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‎The SDP stakeholder expressed optimism about his new party, describing it as an established platform capable of producing the next governor of Nasarawa State.

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‎He said the SDP candidate is marketable and capable, pointing to his empowerment programmes across the state as evidence of capacity to attract voters.