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Tag: Defection

  • Delta APC reacts to Senator Nwaoboshi’s defection to party

    Delta APC reacts to Senator Nwaoboshi’s defection to party

    The Delta Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) says Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the progressive family is a welcome development.
    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Senator Nwaoboshi representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP, defected to the APC and was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by the party leaders on Friday.
    The party stated this in a statement issued by its State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Prophet Jones Erue, on Friday in Asaba.
    Erue said that his committee and members of the State Working Committee (SWC) heartily welcome the distinguished Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi to the APC with open arms.
    He describes Nwaoboshi as a courageous, upright and dogged political tactician who “speaks truth to power” and stands firm in the defence of democracy in the face of intimidation by anti-democratic forces.
    He said, “Sen. Nwaoboshi’s defection from the tyrannical PDP to the Progressives APC family is an attestation to the transformation initiatives of the current APC-led administration’s impacts on the socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians”.
    Erue assured Sen. Nwaoboshi of the unwavering support of the party leadership in furtherance of his political aspirations.
    Nwaoboshi’s defection followed his suspension from the opposition PDP on Wednesday by the State Working Committee (SWC), Delta State Chapter, for a period of one month for alleged anti-party activities.
  • Mimiko denies plot to defect to APC, says partisan politics least of his concern

    Mimiko denies plot to defect to APC, says partisan politics least of his concern

    Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the immediate past governor of Ondo State, on Wednesday indicated that partisan consideration is the least of his concerns now.

    This was in reaction to a report on his supposed plans to defect to the ruling All People’s Congress (APC), published by a social media platform.

    Mimiko, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, John Paul Akinduro, said in a situation where the nation is tottering on the precipice as a result of widespread insecurity, he was more concerned about how to pull the nation back from the brinks, and not some rumoured defection into another party.

    According to Akinduro, the report on Dr Mimiko’s supposed plan to defect to APC “is a piece of fake news.”

    Dr. Mimiko has been in Abuja in the past one week or so, the statement continues, “to attend some events, including the meeting of some NGOs with ethnic-nationality leaders, all hinged on heartfelt concern for the deepening insecurity in the land; and how to fashion out workable solutions, especially through the plank of restructuring.

    “He, within the days of his stay in Abuja, actively participated in the programme tagged ‘Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Transition Inter-Etnic Peace Dialogue,’ held at the Trancorp Hilton, Abuja, on Monday, and the 71st Birthday Celebration and Book Presentation of his party stalwart and friend, Honourable Iranola Joseph Akinlaja, held at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, on Tuesday, June 1st,” the statement added.

    “It is noteworthy that at Hon Akinlaja’s book presentation, Dr Mimiko harped on the theme of security, by advising the President on the centrality of the security challenge to his legacy. He also had many informal meetings with Nigerians across ethnic, religious and political divide, on the need to find lasting, just and fair solutions to the orgy of violence and bloodletting across the country.

    “No where was any mention made or discussion held on any possible defection to any party. Dr. Mimiko remains in the Zenith Labour Party and his hope has been a collaboration of left leaning political groups to offer a real ideologically driven alternative in the nation’s political process,” the statement concluded.

  • A’Ibom PDP denies Gov Emmanuel’s rumoured defection to APC

    A’Ibom PDP denies Gov Emmanuel’s rumoured defection to APC

    The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has debunked the rumour that the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, was hatching a plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The publicity secretary of PDP in the State, Borono Bassey, in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday, described the rumour as a product of ‘hallucinations’ from the opposition party in the State.

    He added that the defection rumour was mere wish of APC members to have the governor as their member to see if his presence in the party could rescue them.

    Bassey, who emphasised that no PDP governor that had performed well in office would think of jumping ship, urged Akwa Ibom people to discountenance the rumour.

    The publicity secretary stated that the rumour was not only targeted at misleading Akwa Ibom people but to heat up the polity and cause unnecessary agitations in the state.

    The statement reads thus: “Workers in the occasionally grinding rumour mill of our land have yet again hatched a fresh but very ludicrous narrative with the central thesis being the ridiculous claim that, His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Udom Emmanuel is toying with the idea of defecting to the rudderless All Progressives Congress, APC.

    “As a party, we wish to affirm that His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel, a leader with a towering record of integrity and performance, remains a very committed and dutiful leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State.

    “We submit that for a Governor whose support base across all strata of the Party is unshakeable as the famed rock of Gibraltar, we cannot conceive the faintest of reasons why Governor Emmanuel would contemplate any form of movement, even in thoughts from the PDP whose values and ideological leaning resonates with his total development and leadership agenda; let alone to a party like the APC, a party synonymous with retrogression.

    “What is clear however from these rumours is that the APC who are the principal shareholders in this rumour mills are desirous of having the focused, Visionary and performing Chief Executive of Akwa Ibom State cross over to their sinking boat, perhaps in the hope that his arrival could be the salvation that has for so long eluded them.

    “Our Party, the PDP does not have even the miniscule sympathy for the APC in this shattered dream as our Governor and leader of our party cannot in all good conscience, plunge our State into the impending retrogression that awaits any state that affiliates directly with the APC.

    “The fact that this risible propaganda is making its way into the public domain at a time when Governor Emmanuel is busy inaugurating life-touching projects around the State as part of his pursuit of the Completion Agenda and to mark the 6th Anniversary of his outstanding leadership in Akwa Ibom State equally speaks to the ill motive of its purveyors.

    ”As a party, we reiterate that no performing PDP Governor who would leave our Party to join a party that has visited untold hardship on Nigerians.

    “We urge our people to disregard such rumours or at best regard them as the manifestations of the thought process results of people who do not wish Akwa Ibom State well.

    “Akwa Ibom State, under the leadership Gov. Udom Emmanuel is marching forward with the PDP and no form of hallucinations from men of the Broom-wielding coven can change this resolve.”

  • Controversy as APC takes over PDP secretariat in C’River days after Ayade’s defection

    Controversy as APC takes over PDP secretariat in C’River days after Ayade’s defection

    Days after officially declaring for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State is leaving no stone unturned to reflect his new status as the party leader in the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Ayade who became a senator, won his first and second term governorship elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC on Thursday, May 20, 2021. However, the romance with the PDP seems over for good as the PDP secretariat in the state is now about wearing the APC colours.

    On Saturday morning, security forces led by the Police were seen guarding the erstwhile PDP secretariat in the state as painters immediately began the painting and cresting of the building with APC colours, logo and flags.

    The development happened at the same time Local Government Council chairmen, a National Assembly member and many political appointees in government started registering in good numbers as APC members.

    One of the two members of the National Assembly that have decided to follow Governor Ayade, Hon. Mike Etaba, representing, Obubra/Etung Federal Consistency spoke after his registration as APC member in his local ward.

    He said, “I am an Ayade foot soldier for all seasons and i will continue to stand with Governor Ben Ayade beyond 2023.

    “We must continue to play politics with ethics devoid of violence. The decision of governor Ben Ayade to affiliate with the centre is a smart choice and we will continue to follow who know road for the generality of all Cross Riverians.”

    On the issue of the new secretariat for the APC, the local government council chairman of Calabar Municipality, Elder Effefiong Nta Eke noted that the State Governor who was the leader of the PDP decided to defect to the ruling APC for the benefit of the state.

    “So the scenario you are seeing here is that the leader has moved to a new party so every component, including the secretariat of the former, must follow the leader to the new.”

    Asked if the decision to use the former PDP secretariat for the APC will not breed conflict or violent reactions, he said no, revealing that the governor was paying the rent and when it expired for some time ago, those who claim to be founding members did not contribute a dime until Ayade came and renewed the rent.

    According to him, “Ayade is not taking anything belonging to a body. He is taking what belongs to him. He paid the rent so the rent follows him to the APC.”

    Police warn trouble makers not to disturb renovation works

    Meanwhile the police in a statement signed by DSP Irene Ugbo disclosed of an attempt by some persons to disrupt the renovation “work going on at a building at No: 142 (a ) along the Muritala Mohammed Highway Calabar.”

    The Police statement said, “For the avoidance of doubt the property is a rented property that its “Tenancy” is not in ‘Contention.

    “As a responsible Command, we will not sit back and watch any Person(s) come to disrupt the relative peace we have worked tirelessly to achieve. All are warned to maintain Peace, Law and Order.

    “The current situation is a wake-up call to Men of Character to rise and put resources together to put up a Structure that will not be contentious in future.

    “The Cross River Police Command will not hesitate to deal decisively with any unlawful action with the full weight of the law.”

    The police statement was signed by DSP Irene Ugbo, the Police Public Relations officer, Cross River State Police Command.

  • Defection: APC Governors Forum officially welcome Ayade into party

    Defection: APC Governors Forum officially welcome Ayade into party

    The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) representing governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade for joining their fold.

    Ayade dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling APC, which came as a shock to his colleagues in the opposition party.

    He contested under the PDP platform in 2015 and won. The Cross River governor also actualised his second term ambition under the opposition party in 2019.

    Reacting via a statement issued on Friday, the PGF Chairman and Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said Ayade’s decision to join the APC is a testament of “our party’s capacity to mobilise all Nigerians consistent with the vision of the founding fathers to ensure that the APC is a platform to unite all Nigerians.”

    He described the ruling party as one “that is open, transparent and will continue to guarantee fair contestation in politics, in line with the overarching commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and all our founding leaders.”

    “Our National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee has worked hard to restore the political credentials of the APC as a strong institution for Nigeria’s democratic development. We will continue to support the National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee in all its current initiatives to rebuild our great party.

    “With the coming of Mr. Ayade, the capacity of our party to mobilise all patriots and other like-minded progressive Nigerians to join the APC is stronger.”

    See the full statement issued by the Progressives Governors on the defection of Governor Ben Ayade to the ruling APC below:

    The Progressive Reinforcement Continues

    Welcoming Mr. Ben Ayade to the APC

    The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) welcome His Excellency, Mr. Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State to the All Progressives Congress (APC). We join all leaders and members to welcome this illustrious Nigerian into our great party. The decision of Mr. Ayade to join the APC is a testament of our party’s capacity to mobilise all Nigerians consistent with the vision of the founding fathers to ensure that the APC is a platform to unite all Nigerians. The coming of Mr. Ayade into the APC further reinforces the process of membership and leadership recruitment at all levels.

    We congratulate our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, whose sterling qualities and fair mindedness endear patriotic Nigerians to the party. Mr. President’s credentials as a fair leader who is impartial will continue to promote our party and serve as a major source of electoral advantage. As Progressive Governors, we will remain steadfast in supporting the efforts and initiatives of Mr. President to build our party, APC, as a strong and democratic political party in the country.

    Also, we salute our members of the APC National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee under the leadership of HE Mai Mala Buni for this milestone achievement of once again getting another experienced leader in the person of His Excellency Ben Ayade to join the APC. We welcome Mr. Ben Ayade for taking the courageous decision of leaving the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to join our party, the All Progressives Congress. The movement of our compatriot to the APC is indicative of his principles, commitment and conviction to the development of Nigeria.

    Given all his achievements in Cross River State, Mr. Ayade is only coming home where he belongs. APC is indeed the party that will provide him and his people, and indeed all Nigerians the viable platform for political aspirations and negotiations. Together with Mr. Ayade and all our leaders in the APC, our party’s capacity to serve the collective interests of all Nigerians through effective representation will be strengthened and reinforced.

    Our party, APC, is open, transparent and will continue to guarantee fair contestation in politics, in line with the overarching commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and all our founding leaders. Our National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee has worked hard to restore the political credentials of the APC as a strong institution for Nigeria’s democratic development. We will continue to support the National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee in all its current initiatives to rebuild our great party. With the coming of Mr. Ayade, the capacity of our party to mobilise all patriots and other like-minded progressive Nigerians to join the APC is stronger.

    APC belongs to all Nigerians. Everyone, from every part of the country is free to aspire for any position in the party in line with provisions of our party’s constitution and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The guiding philosophy as enshrined in the provisions of our manifesto is economic, social and political development of Nigeria.

    The Progressive Reinforcement of our party continues. We look forward to receiving more patriots and progressive minded Nigerians into the APC!

     

    Signed

     

    HE Abubakar Atiku Bagudu

    Chairman

    For and on Behalf of Progressive Governors

  • Defection: PDP ‘wishes Ayade well’, sends message to members in Cross River

    Defection: PDP ‘wishes Ayade well’, sends message to members in Cross River

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked its members in Cross River to remain steadfast, committed and united to the party.

    The statement comes after the state governor, Ben Ayade defected from the PDP to the APC.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Governor Ayade announced his decision on Thursday morning after a closed-door meeting with six APC governors and some members of the National Assembly who visited him at the Government House.

    The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan called on stakeholders to ensure the party structure remains intact.

    “Our party calls on all critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party in Cross Rivers State to immediately pull together and ensure that every structure of our party in the state remains intact.

    “The PDP wishes Governor Ayade well in his new political sojourn as well as in his future endeavours”.

  • Tambuwal, Okowa, Ugwuanyi storm Cross River over Ayade’s alleged defection plans to APC

    Tambuwal, Okowa, Ugwuanyi storm Cross River over Ayade’s alleged defection plans to APC

    Some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have visited Cross River to resolve the crisis in the state chapter of the party.

    Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, led his colleagues in Delta and Enugu States, Ifeanyi Okowa and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to meet with their Cross River counterpart, Ben Ayade.

    The meeting which held on Wednesday at the Government House in Calabar, the state capital focused on issues bordering on the party’s unity in Cross River and lasted about two hours.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that there had been reports of Governor Ayade’s possible defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the controversial congress held in the state.

    Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, Governor Tambuwal described the discussion as a fruitful, peaceful, and productive engagement with party stakeholders in the state.

    He said, “We are here on the mandate of the PDP Governors’ Forum which was sanctioned by the National Working Committee (NWC) to come and engage with our dear brother and colleague, Professor Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross River State, and the stakeholders of our party here in Cross River on the issues of the congresses held in the state that became contentious.

    “We have engaged with (them) and the feeler we have is that by the grace of God, we will soon resolve these issues and the party will bounce back as one.”

    “There were lots of concerns about how the congresses went and every one of us is interested that we restore normalcy to ensure that the family is brought back together and work together for the common interest of Cross River State,” the governor added.

    He noted that their report would be presented at a meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum and the NWC for examination, deliberation, and action.

    After the meeting, the three visiting governors were led by Governor Ayade to the state’s Industrial Park comprising a frozen chicken line popularly called Calachika, Cross River State Instant Noodles branded KISIMIE Instant Noodles and the feed mill.

    They were delighted with the performance of their host whom they said has done well in job creation and diversification of the state’s economy.

  • Ayade’s planned defection to APC thickens as 18 LG chairmen, 196 councillors back governor

    Ayade’s planned defection to APC thickens as 18 LG chairmen, 196 councillors back governor

    The move by the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade to declare for the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged injustices to him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received a boost on Wednesday after the Local Government Chairmen and 196 councillors threatened to ‘go with the governor wherever he leads them’

    Sensing danger, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP immediately mobilised Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and the party’s reconciliation committee headed by a former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to persuade the governor from dumping the party.

    According to report by This Day, the 18 elected local government chairmen and 196 councillors said the only condition to remain in the party is a fresh conduct of its congress.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that the chairmen and councillors yesterday met with members of the NWC in Abuja during which they served the defection threat.

    The delegation, led by the Chairman of Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Bassey, in a petition handed over to the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, called for immediate conduct of transparent congresses at all levels in the state.

    According to reports, the last congress conducted by the PDP in the state, Ayade lost control of the structures to members of the party in the National Assembly.

    The governor’s loss of political structures at all levels to a faction that sponsored Hon. Agoms Jarigbe in the senatorial primary that pitted him against Senator Steve Odeh, sponsored by the faction loyal to the governor.

    Odeh, it was gathered, was sponsored by the governor to replace the late Senator Rose Okoh who died last year.

    It was alleged that Odeh reached a deal with the governor to spend only one term as a senator to enable Ayade to return to the Senate, where he was until 2015.

    However, the calculation failed as Jarigbe, a serving member of the House of Representatives refused to remain in the House.

    At the primary, PDP returned Odeh as the senatorial candidate, but Jarigbe rejected the outcome and went to court and his appeals were upheld.

    The development led to the threat of defection by the governor and his faction, which boycotted the zonal congress of the party held recently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where Chief Dan Orbih was elected as the South-south National Vice Chairman.

    The governor also boycotted the PDP governors’ meeting at the weekend in Makurdi, Benue State.

    It was as a result of the threat by the governor to defect to the APC that the elected local government chairmen and councillors met with Agbo yesterday to present their petition for a new congress to confer respect on the governor as the leader of the party or they would defect.

    Chairman of the Calabar Municipal Council, Hon. Effiong Eke, told journalists after the meeting with the party that they demanded a fresh state congress to guarantee the return of party structures to the governor.

    He said: “The governor is the leader of the party in the state. He should be given control of the party structures and this can only be done with a fresh congress.

    “We are demanding a fresh congress. If not, where the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, goes, we will go with him. He is the leader of the party in the state.”

    Also, the leader of the delegation, Hon. Emmanuel Bassey, who is also the Chairman of Cross Rivers State Local Government Chairmen Forum, said: “We are chairmen of the 18 local government councils in Cross River State. We came to meet the national chairman and we have met him, and he was ably represented by the Deputy National Secretary in the person of Dr. Emmanuel Agbo.

    “We came for the purpose of our state; the state of affair of the party in our state; we met him and we presented to him what we came with and he has honourably taken care of it and has assured us that he is going to make sure that what we presented to the party and what we came with, will be given immediate and urgent attention.”

    When he was asked to reveal the content of the petition presented, he said: “You guys must have known that the state congress has not been held, and we did ask that it be done urgently. And he has assured us that that will be considered urgently.

    “For God’s sake, Prof. Ben Ayade is the party leader in Cross River State; he is the one that leads, just like every other governor in any PDP state. So, let us give him his due respect. Let it be given to him.

    Whatever equation he must have taken, I think is to a great extent it is for the goodness and betterment of the party.

    “Let me state here categorically that we are the pillars of the party in Cross River State and these pillars were erected by Prof. Ben Ayade; so, if he goes, we go with him.”

  • Alleged planned defection: Makinde cannot be trusted, no soft landing for him in APC – Coalition

    Alleged planned defection: Makinde cannot be trusted, no soft landing for him in APC – Coalition

    A coalition of political groups in Oyo State has vowed to resist attempts by Governor Seyi Makinde to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This is contained in a communique issued after their joint stakeholders meeting and made available to newsmen on Monday in Ibadan.

    Among the political groups in attendance were the Oyo Solidarity Front (OSF), Oyo Progressives Resolute (OPR) and Oyo Sustainable Development Movement (OSDM).

    The communique was signed by Messrs Johnson Olooto, Shina Alubankudi, Waheed Olanrewaju, Sunday Olododo, Ibrahim Arikewusola and Daud Arapaja, the chairmen and secretaries of the groups respectively.

    According to speculations making the rounds in Oyo, the governor is planning to join the APC in the state due to the collapse of the structure that brought him to power in 2019.

    The coalition said that the governor’s attempts will be resisted by all stakeholders in Oyo APC, adding that the masses in the state will be mobilized to stop this “anathema” to progressive tendencies.

    “He has been rejected by his party and its leadership in the South West and he is looking for a soft landing, he should move further than the APC. He has always claimed to be popular.

    “He should stake his popularity in any of the other political parties in the country, not in APC where he has elevated his attack on party leadership to a state policy,” they said.

    They noted in a communique that the governor could not be trusted because he betrayed all those who worked for him to emerge as governor.

    “Was it not the same Governor Makinde that said there was Corona Virus in APC at one of his party’s rallies?

    “Was he not the same Governor Makinde who harassed members of the progressives in the State and has continued to do so?

    “So why does Governor Makinde think it is the same party that should offer him a soft landing.”

    The coalition said that anyone that cannot be trusted would find it difficult to get a berth in APC.

    “All the people that helped him to power are no longer with him. Former Gov. Ayodele Fayose was the person that handed over the PDP flag to him as party flag bearer, today he is at logger heads with his benefactor.

    “His antics have left his party more divided and many have deserted him. He would be an albatross on the neck of APC in Oyo State and we will resist his attempt at joining our party,” they said.

    TheNewsGuru,com, TNG reports that Governor Seyi Makinde was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 after his initial failed attempts with other parties.

  • Why Fani-Kayode’s ‘defection’ to APC was rejected – Progressive Governors DG

    Why Fani-Kayode’s ‘defection’ to APC was rejected – Progressive Governors DG

    The Director General of the Progressive Governor’s Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman has said the rejection of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from defecting to the party despite meeting with the party leadership is an attestation of the strong internal democratic culture of the party.

    In a statement titled “APC, and the Question of Values” on Friday in Abuja on Friday, Lukman said the fact that members were able to reject Fani-Kayode’s attempt to join the party meant the APC has values.

    Lukman who is a Chieftain of the ruling party commended the internal democratic credentials of the ruling party, which he said is lacking in the opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Again, we are as a party debating the issue of who should join our party or not represent the qualitative difference between the APC and PDP. If it were PDP, once the National Chairman of the party act on a matter and backed by a serving governor, members can only grumble.

    “I am proud to have my voice guaranteed and affirmed by my leaders in APC. As an employee of Governors, it has been a privileged opportunity to speak out openly on matters within the purview of leadership initiative. Rather than my leaders, including our Governors, relating to me as a subordinate who should only take instructions, they recognise and respect my views as a loyal member of the party.”

    He further said, “The issue of Mr Fani-Kayode’s drifted attempt to join the APC is a clear instance of attempts to manipulate some of our leaders into accepting membership of someone who ought not to have been considered a member of our party. If that was the case in the past, it is better late than never to correct such a mistake.

    “As party members, we were able to rise up to the challenge of engaging our leaders. Fortunately, we are able to gain the respect of our leaders and surely, moving forward, issues of who qualifies to be a member of our party will be clarified unambiguously. Maybe this could challenge the PDP and other parties in Nigeria to begin to address issues related to their failings.”