Barely two weeks after his resignation, the former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state.

Vatsa joined the opposition SDP on Wednesday at his Gulu Anguwa-Gulu Vatsa ward in Lapai Local Government Area of the state, where he was issued the party membership card with number N10120100001 by the ward chairman of the party, Adamu Mohammed Baba.

This brings to an end speculation about his next political move after he announced his resignation from the ruling APC two weeks ago, accusing the party of betraying the trust of Nigerians.

In a well-attended ceremony at the party ward, the former publicity secretary of the APC in the state also announced the defection of over 200 of his supporters from the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cutting across the five wards of Azza, to his new party.

The supporters are from Evuti Pada, Ebbo Gbacheko, Muye Egba, Gupa Abuge and Gulu-Anguwan Gulu Vatsa ward.

They said Vatsa’s resignation from the ruling APC was long overdue because the party had nothing to offer Nigerians except excuses for its failures.

The supporters therefore said they had no choice but to follow him to his new political party because he had been a pillar and had always carried them along in all his political decisions.

The ward chairman of the party, while presenting the membership card to the man he described as a “big fish” for the party, maintained that Vatsa’s contribution to the development of the area remained unequalled.

“The decision you have taken today to leave APC is long overdue, it is a welcome development because the party has failed Nigerians.

“The party has further pushed Nigerians below the poverty line. People are merely struggling to survive and that is why Nigerians must vote them out in 2027.

“With your grassroots political experience and your contributions to the political development in the state, we are confident that SDP will take over the reins of power in Niger State in 2027.

“I must confess the party has caught a big fish in the state. We look forward to you to give leadership direction to the party,” he added.

Also speaking, the ward youth leader of the party, Mallam Said Mohammed, assured him that he would not regret joining the party because it is among the oldest parties in Nigeria, with massive structures waiting for people like him to make things happen.

Addressing party members and supporters after obtaining his membership card, the former commissioner said his decision to join the SDP was informed by his conviction that the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Mohammed Mohammed Ndarani (SAN), is a man who can be trusted with leadership.

According to him, “the governorship candidate means well for the state, and his track record of achievements makes him a man who can be trusted with power”.

He described the current leadership under the APC administration in the state as the worst since 1999, with nothing to show for the enormous resources at its disposal.

He told the people that it was on record that, while he was in the ruling party, he had remained very consistent in his criticism of the way the government was being run, citing mismanagement of public funds.

“This is a government that has enormous resources from the federal account, including loans, yet you cannot point to a single project worth N5 billion that has been completed,” he added, saying: “I urge you all to get your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) ready to vote this government out in the state.”

He reminded the people that a political party does not make people; rather, the people make the political party, stressing that “with the support of you all that have decided to move along with me to SDP today, the party will soon stamp its authority in the state, and we will take over the government in 2027”. (The Sun)