By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi & Ismail Omipidan
•A cross section of APC Governors with President Buhari
•A cross section of APC Governors with President Buhari
Barring any change, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may be hit by mass defection, in the next four months.
It
was gathered that some APC governors, senators and members of the House
of Representatives, dissatisfied with events in the ruling political
party, have cut a deal with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a
view to joining the opposition political party.
was gathered that some APC governors, senators and members of the House
of Representatives, dissatisfied with events in the ruling political
party, have cut a deal with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a
view to joining the opposition political party.
This
is coming at a time the PDP has declared that its platform was open to
all Nigerians to actualise their dreams of contesting elections.
is coming at a time the PDP has declared that its platform was open to
all Nigerians to actualise their dreams of contesting elections.
But reacting, National Publicity of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, told Daily Sun that the party won’t want to react to such information when no name of any governor or chieftain was mentioned.
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“I cannot react based on speculations,” the APC spokesman said.
However,
competent sources among those who attended the PDP’s recent National
Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Asaba, Delta State capital, revealed
that top APC members, who will defect may join the PDP latest by May.
competent sources among those who attended the PDP’s recent National
Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Asaba, Delta State capital, revealed
that top APC members, who will defect may join the PDP latest by May.
Eleven
PDP governors and other executives of the party were at the Asaba
meeting. The governors were Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa
Ibom), Henry Dickson (Bayelsa), Benedict Ayade (Cross River), Ifeanyi
Okowa (Delta State), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti),
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), Nyesom Wike
(Rivers) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).
PDP governors and other executives of the party were at the Asaba
meeting. The governors were Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa
Ibom), Henry Dickson (Bayelsa), Benedict Ayade (Cross River), Ifeanyi
Okowa (Delta State), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti),
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), Nyesom Wike
(Rivers) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).
Others were PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and other party executives.
One
of the sources, who said part of the PDP NWC meeting centred on how the
defecting APC members would be received, said some of the elected APC
governors and senator were among those that left the party in 2014
before the 2015 general elections.
of the sources, who said part of the PDP NWC meeting centred on how the
defecting APC members would be received, said some of the elected APC
governors and senator were among those that left the party in 2014
before the 2015 general elections.
He said Nigerians would be shocked by the calibre of APC members that would dump the party for the PDP.
Although
he refused to mention names of those involved, he hinted that they were
from the North West and North Central geopolitical zones.
he refused to mention names of those involved, he hinted that they were
from the North West and North Central geopolitical zones.
“By
the time the governors move, Nigerians will be surprised.
the time the governors move, Nigerians will be surprised.
Some APC
governors are already disenchanted with the party and its leadership.
Before the Asaba meeting, PDP leadership had opened talks with them and
the talks have been fruitful, we were told.
governors are already disenchanted with the party and its leadership.
Before the Asaba meeting, PDP leadership had opened talks with them and
the talks have been fruitful, we were told.
“The
crux of the NWC meeting was how to fine-tune modalities on how to
receive those joining PDP and how they will be integrated.”
crux of the NWC meeting was how to fine-tune modalities on how to
receive those joining PDP and how they will be integrated.”
The source said the defection that would happen in the National Assembly would be so huge that the configuration would change.
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According
to him, what happened in the National Assembly when Sokoto State
governor as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal,
spearheaded the defection of PDP lawmakers to APC may repeat itself.
to him, what happened in the National Assembly when Sokoto State
governor as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal,
spearheaded the defection of PDP lawmakers to APC may repeat itself.
“By
the time federal lawmakers move to the PDP, I can tell you that the PDP
will constitute the majority. They are joining us in preparation for
the 2019 general elections,” he said.
the time federal lawmakers move to the PDP, I can tell you that the PDP
will constitute the majority. They are joining us in preparation for
the 2019 general elections,” he said.
Part
of the reason some of the federal lawmakers were angry with the APC and
the Federal Government, it was gathered, is the Presidency’s handling
of the nomination of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
of the reason some of the federal lawmakers were angry with the APC and
the Federal Government, it was gathered, is the Presidency’s handling
of the nomination of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
Daily
Sun gathered that some of the senators said the Presidency has shown
disdain for the Senate in the Magu issue and, therefore, senators feel
insulted.
Sun gathered that some of the senators said the Presidency has shown
disdain for the Senate in the Magu issue and, therefore, senators feel
insulted.
However,
there are strong indications that presidential aspirants defecting from
the APC to the PDP may not find it easy displacing other PDP
presidential aspirants. Already, the list of those aspiring to run on
the platform of the party has increased.
there are strong indications that presidential aspirants defecting from
the APC to the PDP may not find it easy displacing other PDP
presidential aspirants. Already, the list of those aspiring to run on
the platform of the party has increased.
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Apart
from former Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido, former Kano State governor,
Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, all of
whom have formally declared their intention, there are four others who
are making consultations, but are yet to make their intention public.
from former Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido, former Kano State governor,
Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, all of
whom have formally declared their intention, there are four others who
are making consultations, but are yet to make their intention public.
They
are former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, former Senate president,
David Mark, Gombe State governor, Ibrahim DanKwambo and immediate past
National Caretaker Committee chairman and former Kaduna State governor,
Ahmed Makarfi.
are former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, former Senate president,
David Mark, Gombe State governor, Ibrahim DanKwambo and immediate past
National Caretaker Committee chairman and former Kaduna State governor,
Ahmed Makarfi.
For
now, apart from Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Rabiu
Kwankwaso is another APC chieftain that is also eying the PDP’s ticket.
(Daily Sun)
now, apart from Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Rabiu
Kwankwaso is another APC chieftain that is also eying the PDP’s ticket.
(Daily Sun)
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