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Tag: Defection

  • What Tambuwal, Saraki, Ahmed’s defection mean to us – APC

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it is neither distracted nor surprised by the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki; Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed and Aminu Tambuwal of Kwara and Sokoto States; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and others from the party.

    In the first official reaction, APC said the defectors had the right and freedom to pursue their political ambitions wherever they desired. In the statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, the party also saluted the resolution of the defectors to come openly and declare where they belonged.

    The party advised Saraki, Ahmed, Tambuwal, Abdullahi and the others to maintain in their respective environments the spirit and atmosphere of “freedom created by the APC, which enabled them to leave without let or hindrance.”

    Read full statement below:

    APC Neither Surprised Nor Disturbed by Defections

    The defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki; Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed and Aminu Tambuwal of Kwara and Sokoto States; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and others, to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) neither surprises nor distracts the All Progressives Congress (APC). Every follower of events in recent times could decipher the signs that foretold the exit of Saraki, Tambuwal, Ahmed, Abdullahi, from our great party.

    We thank them for their contributions to the APC for the period they were with us. We also salute their courage to openly declare where they belong, as we had always advised.

    APC is a party founded and run on the principles of freedom, sincerity, and forthrightness. Saraki and the others have the freedom of association and the right to pursue their political ambitions wherever they deem fit.

    Our advice and hope is that those who have left would also have the courage to inspire in their respective political environments the atmosphere of unencumbered freedom created by the APC, which enabled them to leave without let or hindrance.

    As a party, our attention is on the matter in hand, the 2019 general election. We are united and focused, with an eye to continuation of our winning streak in all elections this year, next year, and beyond. And we will win!

    To our members in Kwara, Sokoto and the other 34 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), remain steadfast and courageous. Encourage one another in our streets teeming with APC members and supporters from North to South, and East to West.

  • Buhari meets Nigerian Community in Togo, discusses defection woes

    President Muhammadu Buhari said Sunday night that he was not bothered about the defections in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The President made his feelings known while responding to a question during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Togo at the Nigerian Embassy, Lome, Togo.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday, quoted the president as saying that most Nigerians appreciated the performance of his administration.

    President Buhari said: “I am not bothered about the defections. Ordinary Nigerians have developed confidence in us and are defending us.

    “I assure you, majority of Nigerians back home are appreciative of our efforts.”

    While expressing delight in seeing the Nigerians who had travelled from the five regions of Togo to welcome him in Lome, President Buhari said he was pleased to hear them commend the performance of his administration.

    He assured them that his administration had remained steadfast in keeping to its three campaign promises of providing security, improving the economy and fighting corruption.

    The President noted that if past governments had utilised even 25 per cent of the huge oil revenue available to them, Nigerians would not be complaining today.

    He cited the 16 billion dollars reportedly spent on electricity and yet Nigerians could not see the power.

    He, however, restated his administration’s commitment to providing critical infrastructure, providing loans to farmers thereby cutting rice importation by more than 90 per cent.

    President Buhari said all recovered illegally acquired assets would now be sold and the money paid into the treasury in the administration’s renewed anti-graft campaign.

    “I assure you that we are making progress in security as some displaced farmers are returning to their farms.

    “We will continue to work very hard for our dear country,” he stressed.

    In his welcome address, the Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Joseph Olusola Iji, said the close to two million Nigerians in Togo were law-abiding and peaceful.

    He, however, drew the president’s attention to the inability of the Nigerian Mission in Lome to issue Nigerian passports, making applicants to go to Ghana or Benin Republic.

    Representatives of top bank executives, who spoke at the event, commended the economic policies of the Federal Government especially the Ease of Doing Business, agricultural revolution and anti-corruption campaign,

    According to the presidential aide, other leaders of the Nigerian Community at the event also lauded the discipline, transparency and accountability that the current administration has introduced into governance.

    “They also called for government assistance towards the completion of community’s on-going school building project in order to overcome the lack of good English schools in that country,’’ he said.

    On its part, the APC Togo Chapter, told President Buhari not to be worried about the defections from the party, assuring him of its support in the 2019 presidential election.

    The meeting with the Nigerian Community was the President’s first official engagement on arrival in Lome ahead of the Joint ECOWAS/Economic Community of Central African States Summit,

    President Buhari will also be participating in the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, among others.

     

  • Expect more defections to PDP – Ekweremadu

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has described the recent defection of over 50 lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a tip of the iceberg.

    The Deputy President predicted that there would be massive defection to the main opposition party in the months ahead.

    He said what the nation witnessed in the last few days, being the defection of scores of federal lawmakers and the return of the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, to the PDP was “a tip of the iceberg”.

    He spoke at Awgu, Enugu State on Saturday during the inauguration of the Agwu Local Government chapter of the Gburugburu Movement, which champions the reelection of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    A statement by Uche Anichukwu, Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate, quoted him as saying that: “Spirits have been high within the PDP family and Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) for sometime now, especially following the joining and rejoining of the PDP and the coalition by scores of National and State Assembly Members as well as the Governor of Benue State.

    “We are happy for this. But I have good news for you. Nigerians have only witnessed a tip of the iceberg. More are on their way because it is no longer about anybody’s individual political ambition. It is now a movement to rescue Nigeria. So, we are not only the biggest political party, we are also the fastest growing political party in Africa.

    “I want to assure you that so many respected Nigerians have also keyed into this movement to rescue Nigeria because the world is now very worried for our nation.

    “So, in a matter of months, Nigerians will go to the polls to enthrone a new order of peace, unity, security, and respect for the rule of law”.

    Ekweremadu also assured the Governor of Enugu State of the total support of the entire Enugu West Senatorial District, adding that not only would nobody from the district contest against the Governor, but the people of the zone would also obtain the party’s nomination form for the governor at the right time.

    “Not long ago, the entire Enugu West Senatorial District gathered here to endorse Governor Ugwuanyi for a second term. So, we can only say that we remain committed to that decision. He has done very well and deserves a second, straight term in office”, he stressed.

  • 2019: How Tinubu, Oshiomole, others stopped me from defecting – Shehu Sani

    Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has explained how some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) talked him out of his planned defection.

    The outspoken senator said it took the efforts of the chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole, a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, and the national chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, Balarabe Musa to stop his defection most likely to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as his colleagues did on Tuesday.

    On Tuesday, 15 members of the ruling party changed allegiance, with 12 joining the PDP.

    “My defection was stopped by Asiwaju Tinubu, Oshiomole and Balarabe Musa. First of all, they recognised and accepted the fact that an injustice has been done to me in Kaduna.

    “Balarabe Musa invited me to his house, cautioned and counselled me against defection. Asiwaju did the same thing. Adams Oshiomole reminded me of my activism and the struggles.

    “They drew my attention to the fact that all those who defected to the PDP were once PDP members. I don’t have the pedigree of PDP. I’m an activist.

    “The assurance they gave me was that everything will be sorted out. They assured me that they will intervene on issues which I raised. Because of that I could not defect.”

    Apart from the three, the lawmaker alluded his change of mind to interventions by lawyer, Femi Falana, religious leaders and his constituents.

    Sani said he raised five issues the party leaders were to address.

    “The first was the fact that the governor (El-Rufai) engineered my suspension and neither the presidency nor the party have ever lend a voice about that.”

    “Secondly, my office was attacked five times by thugs. Thirdly, the governor tried to frame me in a murder case. Then the governor publicly incited the general public to attack me because we denied him loan.

    “The governor also demolished the house of the national vice chairman of the party when he tried to intervene.”

    Sani said his decision to dump the party was upturned a night before the formal announcement on the floor of the Senate.

    He added that his colleagues, who later defected mounted intense pressure on him to yield.

    “I was under intense pressure from my colleagues who defected, to defect along with them. I explained to them that we have different political constituencies, calculations and background.

    On his plan ahead of 2019, Sani said he would contest for the senatorial seat again.

    But he quickly added: “It’s still open, it depends on the decision of the party. I’m going to contest for the Senate. That is it for now.”

  • 2019: Buhari speaks on massive defection of lawmakers from APC

    2019: Buhari speaks on massive defection of lawmakers from APC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his total commitment to the values of democracy, freedom of choice and total willingness to work with all members of the National Assembly, irrespective of their political party.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said Buhari was reacting to purported defection of some members of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    Buhari noted that none of the defecting federal lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had any specific grievances against him or the APC-led government; neither did he harbour anything against any of them.

    “As the saying goes, all politics is local. We understand that some of the distinguished and honourable lawmakers have issues with their home states, especially on zoning which bars some of them from seeking another term in their constituencies,” he said.

    While noting that the APC had done its utmost to stop the defections, the president commended the leadership of the party for relentlessly working for its unity and ensuring success in the upcoming elections.

    Buhari assured members of the APC of his total support and urged party faithful not to despair but to see the defections as a seasonal occurrence that happens on election eves.

    He expressed confidence that no harm or injury would be done to the party and its aspirations by the movements.

    The president, therefore, wished all the decamped members the best in their future undertakings.

    It would be recalled that 15 senators on July 25 announced their defection from the APC to the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a letter to the President of the Senate, signed by 14 senators, they indicated their intention to leave the ruling APC for the opposition PDP.

    Also 37 members of the House of Representatives formerly in the fold of the APC dumped the party same date and moved to the PDP and African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The legislators in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, officially announced their defection during plenary on Tuesday.

    We respect rights of members to change parties – APC

    Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, said on Tuesday that it respects the rights of anyone to change parties.

    The APC was reacting to the defection of 15 senators and 36 members of the House of Representatives from it on Tuesday. Majority of the defectors joined the opposition PDP.

    “APC notes the development in the National Assembly with the defection of some of our members from the party,” Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC spokesperson, said in a statement.

    “APC remains in firm control of 25 states of the 36 states of the federation and maintains a clear majority in the federal House of Representatives and state assemblies.”

    “it would appear however that the individuals involved have different considerations beyond the grievances that they were willing to discuss and which our leaders were willing to address,” Mr Abdullahi said.

    The party, therefore, urged its members to remain calm, saying it would continue to prepare the party towards 2019.

    “As a truly democratic party, we respect the right of every citizen to political association. Therefore, we urge our members to remain calm as we continue to work hard to position our party strongly for the next general elections.

    Defectors have no electoral value – Oshiomhole

    The National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has said that losing majority of the lawmakers to opposition parties on Tuesday will not in any way affect the party’s victory in the 2019 elections.

    Recall that 15 senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday defected from the ruling APC on Tuesday with majority joining the PDP.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said those who left are “mercenaries” who were in APC just to win election.

    He said the governing party is “not disturbed at all” and that he is not losing sleep over the defections.

    Oshiomhole also said it is good that those who never believed in the APC are leaving ahead the electioneering activities because that would enable the party concentrate on its campaigns.

    He said those who defected cannot affect the electoral fortunes of APC because President Muhammadu Buhari got more votes than them in their own constituencies in the last election.

     

  • APC officially reacts to lawmakers’ defection to PDP, other parties

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured its members and supporters that it will continue to consolidate on its majority status ahead of the 2019 general elections in spite of the defection of some members.

    The party gave the assurance in a statement by Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, its National Publicity Secretary on Tuesday in Abuja.

    It stated that the APC-led Federal Government would continue to work hard to deliver on its campaign promises to Nigerians.

    It added that “the APC notes the development in the National Assembly, with the defection of some members to other parties.

    “In the last couple of weeks, our party leaders worked to stave off this situation as responsible party leaders would do, but the individuals involved have different considerations beyond the grievances that they were willing to discuss, and which our leaders were willing to address.

    “As a truly democratic party, however, APC respects the rights of every citizen to political association.”

    It, therefore, urged its members to remain calm as it continued to work to position the party for the next general elections.

    It stated that APC remained in firm control of 25 states of the 36 states of the federation and maintained clear majority in Federal House of Representatives and state assemblies.

    Recall that the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, announced the defection of 15 APC senators from the party.

    Members of the House of Representatives followed suit with 37 of them defecting to the PDP and ADP.

  • Defection saga: Buhari meets with Kwankwaso, others

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night held a closed door meeting with a former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso.

    The meeting was believed to be part of efforts aimed at ensuring that some aggrieved members of the ruling All Progressives Congress do not defect from the party.

    Some senators were said to have attended the meeting held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja alongside Kwankwaso.

    The National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, also attended the meeting with the President.

    Some state governors were also said to be in attendance.

  • 2019: PDP governorship aspirants kick against Ortom’s planned defection

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Benue have kicked against the return of the state governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, to the party.

    The aspirants operating as “Forum of PDP Governorship Aspirants in Benue’’, stated this at news conference on Monday in Abuja.

    Leader of the group, Dr Terhemen Tarzoor, said that the aspirants were not opposed to anybody coming into PDP but were mindful of such person’s character and values.

    He said that while the aspirants wanted PDP to reclaim victory in Benue, they could not afford to accept someone of negative value coming to rob them of the chances of the party’s victory in 2019.

    “We are people who believe that there should be value addition.

    “This is someone who has not paid salaries for over one year and Benue people are not happy.

    “The national secretariat of the party in its decision-making position, if they go with the philosophy of not recognising that all politics is local, then I can tell you we can lose.

    “We are ready to accommodate everybody but let us not accommodate people who are of negative values that will rob on the party’s chances in the state.”

    Tarzoor, who was PDP’s governorship candidate 2015 election in the state, said that if the person returning had negative value, the party should not go on believing that someone was coming in with state’s funds.

    “We should look at the value of the person coming in because live is about credit and debit.

    “He will come with the credit side which is money, but the debit side, we will lose election,” Tarzoor said.

    In his remarks, Chairman of the forum, Prof. David Ker, said that while effort was ongoing by national leadership of the party to expand and boost PDP’s strength towards 2019, they should be mindful of the reality in Benue.

    Ker said that they were mindful that it was in the interest of the party to welcome new members, but that it would be of more interest to ensure internal democracy and not allow imposition.

    “We reiterate that a level-playing field for a free, fair and transparent primary election which has been promised us by the Benue state leadership of the PDP should be provided.

  • 2019: R-APC Reps postpones mass defection moves

    2019: R-APC Reps postpones mass defection moves

    Indications emerged on Friday that ,embers of the Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC) in the House of Representatives have postponed their proposed mass defection earlier scheduled for Thursday (yesterday) to next week.

    This came as the All Progressives Congress caucus convened an emergency meeting on Thursday, reportedly to drum support for President Muhammadu Buhari and seek ways to convince the R-APC faction to stick with the caucus.

    Findings indicated that Thursday’s meeting, which was convened by the House Majority Leader, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, lasted from 3.30pm to about 5.28pm.

    One R-APC source said, “Discussions are ongoing and members want to concretise on strategies before the mass defection will take place.

    “What is known is that the APC has given us signals that there is no accommodation for us in the party.

    “We are looking forward to any time before July 26, which is Thursday, next week, to move.”

    Lawmakers, noticeably from Oyo, Benue and Kwara states did not show up at the caucus meeting.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, also stayed away from the meeting, though he presided over the plenary of the House on Thursday.

    The Deputy Speaker, Mr Yussuff Lasun, too was absent, but his case was attributed to today’s primary of the APC for the Osun State governorship poll.

    When Gbajabiamila hurried out of the venue of the meeting as it ended, he declined to make any categorical statement on the deliberations that took place indoors.

    “I don’t dwell on rumours, I dwell on reality. Let that reality come first.

    “There is no fire on the mountain, not at all”, he responded to a reporter’s question.

    Gbajabiamila made efforts not to be drawn into speaking on the defection plot.

    “Where did you find that out from? Let them (R-APC) go first. Talk is cheap,” he snapped.

    Feeling confident, the Lagos lawyer added, “I am not scared at all.”

    He would also not speak on speculation that Buhari was on the agenda of discussion as he continued to walk briskly away from the venue.

     

     

  • Defection threats: Gov Ortom shuns peace meeting with APC

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday failed to attend a peace parley called by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Deputy National Chairman (North) of APC, Sen. Lawal Shu’aibu had invited Sen George Akume and Ortom to Abuja for the “urgent meeting”.

    The duo are the main actors in the tussle for leadership of the Benue chapter of the APC.

    Only Akume was at the meeting which lasted for about two hours. Ortom was said to have stayed back in Makurdi.

    At the end of the meeting, Shuaibu walked with Akume to the latter’s car. The former Governor was silent on what had been discussed.

    Speaking, Shuaibu who was mandated by the party to deal with the situation, said the party was eager to ensure reconciliation.

    The peace meeting followed Ortom’s announcement that he was no longer with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ortom made the declaration at the banquet hall of the Government House in Makurdi, the state capital on Monday.

    He spoke while swearing in the newly appointed Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jerome Torshimbe.