PDP Govs May Join APC, As APGA Reneges On Merger Plot

pdpIt has been revealed that some serving governors and members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), may have concluded plans to join the newly formed political party, All Progressive Congress (APC).

Among governors touted as having plans to leave the PDP, four are from the North-West, three from the North-East, two from the South-South and three from the North-Central.

Further proof have shown that these governors, especially those from the North, would  decamp from PDP to APC, if it becomes clear that President Goodluck Jonathan would run for a second term in office.

Findings have proved that the governors would soon leave the PDP, as they are already discussing with the leaders of the newly formed political party, following the merging of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Congress for Progressive Change CPC), inclusing other political parties .

Reacting to the plot by some PDP governors to decamp to APC, an anonymous member of the National Working Committee of the PDP who confirmed the plan, said “The party’s leadership is afraid. I must tell you. We are not convenient at all because the formation of the party is coming at a time we are having problems in our party.

“Don’t forget that the NWC is divided. The governors are angry. We cannot hold National Executive Committee meeting. We are even finding it difficult to elect the chairman of our Board of Trustees.

“We are also having financial problems in the party as the governors have refused to fund us the way they used to do before the crisis started. So, if anyone is telling you that we are at peace and are not worried as a result of the formation of the party, such a person is being economical with the truth.

“We know that the opposition is in control of the House, because though the Speaker, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal belongs to our party, he is more popular among the opposition political parties.”

But also reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh said, “Definitely, such will never happen. We are not afraid of the newly formed party. Our governors are too committed to the PDP to join the APC.

“You cannot leave the ruling party to join an opposition party, whose future you cannot even tell. It has never happened in the history of this democracy for the PDP to lose any of its governors to the opposition.

“Yes, it is agreed that the party is having some challenges, but we are managing the situation. When other parties had challenges, we knew how they handled them. We are therefore not afraid that some of our governors could leave the PDP and join the APC.”

Meanwhile, spokesperson of the CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin said, “It is not impossible for the governors to join us. The governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, just said today (Thursday) that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) remains his leader and that he is happy at the birth of APC.

“APC is a success story that has come to stay. The governor also added that the formation of the new party would stop all riffraffs from contesting the presidency. So, even if all the governors of the PDP want to come, they are welcome. APC is a party with large heart.”

However, the Deputy Chairman of All Progressive Alliance (APGA), Chief Uche Ejike has said his party is not part of the newly formed party, alleging that the mega party is made up of strange bed fellows.

”I have to say unequivocally as the deputy national chairman of the party that APGA is not part of the so called merger. I need to let  all Nigerians know , I need to let our followers, all the people who are interested in our party  to know that APGA is not part of the group called mega party.

”There was no point in time when the National Working Committee(NWC) deliberated on it as to drag APGA into it. There is  no meeting whatsoever of that . And I know that the only competent body, virtue of the constitution of APGA , that can decide where the party will go if not the NWC.”

Also, the APGA member representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency, Mrs Uche Ekwunife has reaffirmed that APGA had not merged with any political party.

“APGA is a party established for the purpose of advancing the political interest of the Igbo people. Merging the party with other political parties should not be a hush-hush matter. There has been no discussion or consultation among stakeholders.

As a major stakeholder and the oldest member of the party in the House of Representatives, I believe I should be in the know if there are such plans. I have not received any information from my governor nor has the national chairman contacted me about any merger talks. So, how do you shave a man’s head in his absence? For APGA to be part of any merger plan, there must be proper consultations as anything to the contrary will be procedurally wrong.”

News Reporter
Blank NEWS Online founding Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Albert Eruorhe Ograka, is a Graduate of Mass Communication. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ).

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