About 12 governors, who are members of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party, may join the newly formed political party, All
Progressive Congress.
Our correspondent gathered that the governors were already talking with the leaders of the newly formed political party.
Investigations
further showed that some of the governors were already thinking of how
to leave the party and join the newly formed APC.
The new party
was formed by the merging of the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria
Peoples Party, All Progressive Grand Alliance and Congress for
Progressive Change.
It was gathered that some other minor political parties had also discussed with the newly former political
party.
Sources close the PDP said the party was already fidgeting that some of its governors and lawmakers could leave the party.
A
member of the National Working Committee of the PDP, who spoke with our
correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the leadership of the
party and the Presidency were afraid that their governors could abandon
the umbrella.
Umbrella is the symbol of the PDP.
He said
behind the show of ‘we don’t care’ by the party’s leadership, there was
concealment of fear, as the party was afraid that the current crisis
rocking the party could consume it and make it a minority party in the
future.
He 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.”
The source also added that though the party is
convenient with the attitude of his members in the Senate, the same
thing could not be said of the House of Representatives.
“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,” the NWC member said
regrettably.
Among governors touted that could leave the party,
four are from the North-West, three from the North-East, two from the
South-South and three from the North-Central.
Our correspondent
further gathered that these governors, especially those from the North,
would move if it was clear that President Goodluck Jonathan would run
for a second term.
“His second term ambition, if he declares it, will quicken the death of this party,” a source close to the party said.
Reacting
to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the party,
Chief Olisa Metuh, told our correspondent that that would not happen.
He
said he was sure that none of the governors would leave the ruling
party and join the opposition, whose future he said was not known.
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.”
Also,
the spokesperson for the CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, told our
correspondent that the APC would gladly welcome the PDP governors,
adding that it was high time the governors abandoned what he called the
“torn umbrella, which can no longer stop the rain.”
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.”
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