GCC Deputy Mayor quits BDP

Nkayigwa becomes the fifth councillor to defect from the BDP recently - and the BMD's biggest prize. "I can confirm that I have quit the BDP, which I must say is becoming rustier by the day," he said. Nkayigwa decried lack of inner-party democracy and the centralisation of power, which is making it increasingly difficult to deliver.

"When we fail as councillors, people don't point a finger at central government, which has usurped local government powers. Such things as where developments go are decided by central government. We were voted on the basis of promises that we made to the electorate. These remain but a dream as the BDP government continues to centralise everything. Mine is a matter of conscience. I need to be able to tell my voters why I could not deliver and not be taken for a rebel, mind you cannot be honest with your voters if you are a BDP member," he told Mmegi yesterday.