The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken steps to prevent the rumoured plans by Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is as six PDP Governors and some other party chieftains stormed Zamfara State to meet with Matawalle a few days after some APC Governors also visited the state.

We understands that Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), visited Matawalle in Gusau and persuaded him to remain with the PDP.

Speaking during the visit, Tambuwal who led the PDP delegation, noted that the visit by the APC to Zamfara on Monday was an attempt to play politics with the recent Gusau market fire.

The Sokoto State Governor also announced a donation of N100 million on behalf of the PDP Governors Forum for the victims of the market fire.

“We can’t be intimidated by federal might, Zamfara is our home and no visitor can supplant the homeowner.

“I pity leaders that seek to take advantage of people’s misfortune for their selfish interest. Governor Matawalle is our brother and we are going to work with him come rain come shine,” Tambuwal said.

In his response, Governor Matawalle said since the PDP can’t blame him for accepting help from the APC who offered it when he needed it.

He however noted that the PDP apology was accepted.

“If a crying child is abandoned by his mother by the roadside, he takes help from whoever offers it to him,” he noted.

In other news, Chairman Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi has declared that Northern voters won’t cast their votes for candidates based on ethnicity in 2023.

He said they have learnt their lessons from previous elections and there is no guarantee that they will support any candidate simply based on his religion or his ethnicity.

According to him, Northern voters would only cast their votes for someone with credibility who would bring unity and progress to Nigeria.

He added that voters must be convinced about the capability of the individual, and not be cajoled by talks of zoning which some politicians are brandishing ahead of the 2023 elections.

Prof Abdullahi made the submission on Wednesday in Kaduna.