Ex-governorship aspirant dumps NDC for APC in quest for good governance

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

Mr Yusuf Zariyi, a former governorship aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kaduna State, has dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Zariyi said he dumped the NDC for APC in his quest for justice, good governance and improving lives.

He said this while announcing his resignation from NDC and his decision to join the APC at a press conference in Kaduna on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Zariyi said his decision followed extensive consultations, personal experiences and a critical assessment of the NDC platform since he joined the party to pursue his political ambition.

According to him, his involvement in politics was a moral responsibility arising from years of advocacy for justice, community engagement and support for vulnerable people.

Zariyi said he had explored various political options before settling for the NDC as a platform to pursue his vision of good governance and better living conditions for Nigerians.

He, however, said controversies surrounding the party’s governorship primary and subsequent developments made him realise that his political objectives could not be achieved on the platform.

“I am resigning my membership of the party today, being Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026,” Zariyi said.

He said the decision was taken strictly in the interest of the people he represented.

“I represent women, I represent children, I represent the oppressed, I represent everybody that is a victim of lack of equity,” he said.

Zariyi said his political ambition was not driven by the desire to acquire power for its own sake, but to gain access to power to influence policies and improve the lives of ordinary people.

“Power in itself is not an end; it is a means to basically making better the lives of people,” he said.

The former aspirant described himself as a grassroots-oriented person who had engaged communities, led protests, criticised policies and mobilised support for people facing difficulties.

He said his experiences working with communities had exposed him to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians, particularly those living in underserved areas.

Zariyi said he and his associates had often travelled to difficult locations to distribute food, clothing, medication and other assistance to affected communities.

He explained that his decision to venture into politics was partly motivated by the desire to find a more direct way of addressing the challenges facing the people.

According to him, political power should be used to shape policies, influence governance and create opportunities for communities to improve their living conditions.

Zariyi said his resignation from the NDC followed consultations with stakeholders and a careful consideration of the political environment.

He said his decision to join the APC was part of a broader political pursuit aimed at finding a platform through which his vision could be better achieved.

He urged his supporters to remain committed to their grassroots engagements, saying his support for communities would continue regardless of political circumstances.

Zariyi also appealed to his supporters to pray for him and his associates as they embarked on the next phase of their political journey.

He said his commitment remained the welfare of the common man and the pursuit of justice and good governance.