Edward Masha, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of running a government built on “propaganda, lies, and deceit.”
Speaking against the backdrop of recent defections and realignments in the state, Masha dismissed the perception that the PDP is weakening, insisting instead that the APC is rapidly losing connection with ordinary citizens.
He said: “Sometimes when people leave, it gives others room to come in. Some desire to join us, but they feel certain individuals are blocking their chances. The moment that door opens, they rush in.
“When Senator Danjuma La’ah left, who followed him? His top aide for eight years didn’t go with him. If you are a leader and even your immediate aides don’t follow you, then who are you leading?
“Some of them regret their early movement because there is nothing special where they went.
“Some left because zoning didn’t favour them. Others know they won’t get any ticket in the PDP. Some even have EFCC cases and are looking for safe landing.”
Aiming for the APC’s handling of governance in Kaduna, Masha described the administration’s conduct as unserious and opaque.
“The Kaduna State Executive Council has only met eight times in more than two years. What kind of governance is that?” he queried.
He also dismissed the credibility of the recent local government elections, saying the results were rushed and manipulated.
He stated: “Where in the world have you heard that results for 23 local government chairmen and 255 councillors were announced within 57 seconds?
“Even if you are just reading names and votes, it would take more than a minute.”
Despite the internal challenges and defections, Masha declared the PDP “battle-ready” ahead of the 2027 elections.
His words: “Even when APC was the ruling party, we won three senatorial seats and 10 out of 16 House of Representatives seats in 2023. What is so special about the present government?”
He rejected suggestions of forming a coalition or merging with smaller parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC), calling such moves premature.
He said: “You can’t build a vehicle with deflated tires. Our strength is greater than that of an individual. We move only as a party, not as individuals.”
