The Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mahdi Aliyu, on Wednesday, said he chose to remain in the People Democratic Party (PDP) to honour the mandate given to the party by the Supreme Court.

Aliyu has refused to move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after his principal Governor Bello Matawalle defected to the ruling party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

Governor Matawalle officially joined the APC on Tuesday and was welcomed to the party in a grand event held in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

Aliyu, who is a son of a former Minister of Defence, Ali Gusau, opposed moving into the APC, arguing that the apex court awarded the electoral victory in 2019 to the PDP and not just its candidates.

“Remember how the Supreme Court brought us to power. That’s why I am thankful to God and chose to remain in the PDP,” Aliyu told BBC Hausa Service.

The Deputy Governor further said he was never consulted about the plan to defect, “and I heard everything as a rumour until by 6:00 pm on 29th June he announced his defection to the ruling APC.

“Since my father brought the party we never for once left the party. They met us in the PDP and they will left (leave) us there."

While noting that the PDP will seek redress in court over the “desertion of its elected officials,” Aliyu added that he will continue as the Deputy Governor to serve the four years constitutional mandate given to him.

When asked, Mr Aliyu rulled out being impeached. “That is a big work. I have a good working relationship with the governor, he sends me on important assignments, including PDP Governor's meetings.

“It’s not a new thing in Nigeria politics for a Governor and his deputy to belong to different political parties and complete their constitutional mandate together and I hope this too shall come to pass in Zamfara," Mr Aliyu said.