THE BREAKAWAYS: 5 Northern Governors Against Jonathan Dumping Him For APC
There appears to be a major crack among governors opposed to the
re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan as they weigh their
options in the days ahead. They are divided over which political
platform they should seek refuge in come 2015, as one of them says the
best option is the APC.
The governors have been touring Nigeria, consulting with notable leaders with a view to convincing President Jonathan to ignore pressure on him to run for a second term on the basis of a pact he had with the north in 2011: that he would not seek a second term come 2015.
Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Babangida Muazu Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) all PDP governors have been up in arms against President Jonathan over his rumoured second-term ambition.
Although the crisis in the PDP has been largely responsible for the plethora of conflicts within the party, the outcome of the May 24 election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had deepened the already sour relationship between the governors and the presidency on one hand and the governors and the leadership of the PDP on the other.
The governors, now referred to as anti-Jonathan governors for their opposition to his 2015 ambition, have been tinkering with three ideas: to defect to the newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC); to float their own political party, or mobilise against Jonathan within PDP and present a common front in the mould of an aspirant to face the president at the PDP presidential primary in December 2014.
In fact, Governor Nyako favours an outright dumping of the PDP and defection to the APC, but others are still considering the option, and making “wider consultations” before making the big move.
APC is patiently waiting, even as more PDP top shots are said to be discussing with them secretly.
The governors have been touring Nigeria, consulting with notable leaders with a view to convincing President Jonathan to ignore pressure on him to run for a second term on the basis of a pact he had with the north in 2011: that he would not seek a second term come 2015.
Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Babangida Muazu Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) all PDP governors have been up in arms against President Jonathan over his rumoured second-term ambition.
Although the crisis in the PDP has been largely responsible for the plethora of conflicts within the party, the outcome of the May 24 election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had deepened the already sour relationship between the governors and the presidency on one hand and the governors and the leadership of the PDP on the other.
The governors, now referred to as anti-Jonathan governors for their opposition to his 2015 ambition, have been tinkering with three ideas: to defect to the newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC); to float their own political party, or mobilise against Jonathan within PDP and present a common front in the mould of an aspirant to face the president at the PDP presidential primary in December 2014.
In fact, Governor Nyako favours an outright dumping of the PDP and defection to the APC, but others are still considering the option, and making “wider consultations” before making the big move.
APC is patiently waiting, even as more PDP top shots are said to be discussing with them secretly.
