Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deputy governorship candidate in Kano State, Dr Yusuf Bello Danbatta, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Danbatta announced his defection in a formal statement released to journalists in Kano on Friday.

Explaining his decision, he said: “I hereby formally announce my decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). This decision was taken after careful consideration and wide consultations with my leaders, political associates, supporters, and stakeholders.”

He added that he believes the APC offers him a better opportunity to serve the people and contribute to the development of Kano State and Nigeria.

Danbatta said he was particularly inspired by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s leadership and the state government’s development agenda.

“I am convinced that the APC provides a more suitable platform for me to contribute effectively to the advancement of our people and the development of our state and the nation at large,” he stated.

The former PDP chieftain also praised what he described as the APC’s inclusive approach and commitment to improving the welfare of citizens.

He pledged to continue working for unity, peace, and sustainable development.

He also thanked PDP members and leaders for their support and cooperation over the years, expressing his readiness to work with APC members and other stakeholders for the continued development of Kano State.

Former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi, has said that nobody should trust the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s system for voter registration.

Amadi made the assertion on Friday when he featured in an interview on News Central Television.

He was reacting to the failure of INEC to electronically transmit election results, which he said would have made the exercise transparent.

“With all the issues around BVAS malfunctioning, which many people think was internal sabotage by INEC itself not to transmit the election result, do you expect the first item on the agenda of any opposition political party would be to subject INEC to an independent forensic audit.

“Nobody should trust INEC’s voter register. It is actually a less dangerous position than having a system that is being breached.

“First, there was an election. INEC test-ran their systems and expressed their readiness to electronically transmit the election result. On the day of the election, INEC failed and said there was a glitch, but no evidence or proof of the glitch.

The Adamawa State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Omar Suleiman, has affirmed that he remains in the governorship race.

The affirmation came on Friday, hours after speculation emerged that he had decided to abandon his ambition, largely due to the defection from the party of his main backer, Babachir Lawal.

Babachir, one of the two factional leaders of the ADC in Adamawa State (the other being the presidential ticket bearer, Atiku Abubakar), announced his defection earlier in the week, accusing Atiku of rigging the party’s primary elections to favour himself and his allies.

Responding to speculation that he was ditching his ADC governorship ambition to align with Babachir, Omar Suleiman said, “The news circulating about me stepping down for anyone is false, misleading, and entirely baseless.”

In a rebuttal signed on his behalf by his aide, Abdullahi Malgwi, Omar Suleiman urged the public, supporters, party members and the people of Adamawa State to disregard the speculation in its entirety.

“I remain fully committed to my campaign, my vision, and my unwavering determination to serve the people of Adamawa State,” he asserted.