Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare, the former Executive Director of First Bank PLC, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party from the All Progressives Congress (APC) (PDP).
On the platform of the PDP, he stated his intention to run for governor of Zamfara State.
He characterised the APC-led administration as a failure, both at the state and national levels, saying it was exhausted and faltering.
Dare, who was met by throngs of fans at the border between Zamfara and Katsina states, was subsequently met by the party’s leadership in the state.
In his response, the State PDP chairman, Colonel Bala Mande commended him for his boldness to join the party, assuring that everyone both old and new in the party would be treated equally.
Mande further stated that the PDP was very much ready to recollect its lost mandate from the APC, both in the State and at the national level.
While addressing his followers at his Gusau residence, Dare said that he decided to join the governorship race considering the security and economic challenges bedevilling the entire North-West State.
“I joined the race for a rescue mission to salvage the people of the State. I have made a lot of consultations with security and economic experts before I made the decision,” he added.
“We all are very much aware that when Zamfara was a Local Government Area under the old Sokoto State, the security organization was better than what we are witnessing now in the State.
“It is no longer news that Zamfara is the worst State in the federation considering the insecurity situation and no one can doubt this fact,” he said.
The governorship aspirant said that it was a statement of fact that none of Zamfara State indigenes can write WAEC and NECO examinations due to banditry activities ravaging the State.
Dare further stressed that the State government closed all public and private schools for more than nine months, forcing innocent students to be roaming the streets aimlessly.
“Our farmers can no longer participate in their farming activities because there is no political will to end all these acts,” he lamented.
