The Senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Hassan Gusau, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The lawmaker's resignation was announced in a letter read by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

In the letter dated June 28, 2021, the Senator stated the collapse of internal democracy in the PDP as part of his reasons to leave.

“I write to notify the Senate of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the effect of the date (June 28).

“My decision is necessitated due to the collapse of internal democracy and functionalision of the party from ward levels In Zamfara state.

“Further decision of my party affiliation will communicated to this chamber in due course,” the letter read.

What you should know 

Mr Gusau’s announcement comes barely three days after a presidential aide, Bashir Ahmed, suggested that the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, had left the PDP for APC. The governor is yet to formally announce his defection.

Should Mr Gusau join the APC as expected, he would be the third PDP senator to move to APC in the ninth senate. The other two are Elisha Abbo and Peter Nwaoboshi.

The defection of key political players like governors and senators, from one party to the other, is commonplace in Nigerian politics and no governor has previously lost his seat because he changed parties.

While the constitution explicitly states loss of seat as punishment for lawmakers that change parties, except in the event of specific circumstances, it is silent on other public office holders doing the same.