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Tag: defection

  • Defection not immunity against trial for corruption, says govt

    The Federal Government assured yesterday that the gale of defection in the nation’s party politics will not shield any corrupt politician from investigation and prosecution.

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the assurance during a visit to the Abuja office of The Authority.

    Fielding questions from members of the editorial board of the paper, the minister said defection, even to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), would not immune politicians who had looted the nation’s economy from being prosecuted.

    “Nigerians should be rest assured that the fact that some persons are moving from one party to another does not mean that they will escape prosecution.

    “Nobody will escape investigation and prosecution on the ground that he or she has moved to APC.

    “We have shown that with a former governor and a member of our party that was convicted. We will never terminate anybody’s prosecution on the ground of decamping.

    “However, it is not for the Executive to do the work of the Judiciary,’’ he said.

    The minister, however, said that many of the defections being witnessed were not premised on the allegation of escaping justice.

    He said some defected for “political calculation and personal reasons’’.

    The minister reiterated that the ruling party was not perturbed by the gale of defection, especially by members of the National Assembly.

    “We did not just start noticing this, the foundation for it was laid the day Dr Bukola Saraki became the Senate President.

    “In every part of the world, when a party has the majority in Parliament, the party decides who is going to be the leader of the parliament.

    “This is a case where the party was still waiting for the President to resolve the issue when Saraki, from the back door, emerged as Senate President.

    “From then, we have known, because his emergence was illegal and against the wish of the party,’’ he said.

    The minister said that to make the matter worse, Saraki made a deal with the opposition PDP, by conceding the Deputy Senate President’s position.

    “In the last two years, the National Assembly has been behaving as if the opposition is in control. We have a Senate President that is so hostile to the government.

    “For three years, budgets are passed only in June. As I speak today, there has been no disbursement on capital project in 2018 budget.

    “Critical appointments are also being delayed and the government is being blackmailed every day,’’ he said.

    “I have never seen in history, where a leader of parliament will announce the defection of 15 members from his party.

    “The proper thing is, if you are loyal to your party, you put stumbling blocks on such defection,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said Kwara, his state and that of Saraki which is the epicentre of the defection, remained solidly behind APC and Buhari.

  • ‘Ondo Exco members’ defection report untrue’

    The Ondo State government yesterday debunked a report that some members of the State Executive Council (Exco) are planning to resign their appointments to either contest for positions or defect to other parties.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Oliwolabi, said: “We find it imperative to set the record straight due to the sensitive nature of the report, as it bothers on the unity and cordial working relationship between the governor and his Exco members.

    “While we are convinced that the story was planted by enemies of this government, who have resorted to cheap blackmail to distract a performing governor and his officials, it is also instructive to quickly open the eyes of the public to see the nakedness of the falsehood and concocted stories planted by enemies of progress.

    “This is to cause disaffection among the government officials and the All Progressives Congress (APC) family in the state.”

    The statement noted that in a democratic setting, political aspirations are normal, adding: “Ondo State is not an exemption. But we are proud to say that these aspirations have not resulted into any form of wrangling in our Exco as every member remains fiercely loyal to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and irrevocably committed to his vision.

  • Much ado about defection

    Sir: The defections from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party in the National Assembly as well as some states of the federation has left the masses confused given that some of the excuses given were part of, if not all the excuses supplied in 2014 when the struggle to wrest power from the then ruling PDP was considered ‘imperative’ by some of the current defectors.

    An average politician has the desire to gain the control of government as the primary aim whether for truly bettering the lots of the citizens or their selfish interests. However, inability of the citizens to determine from a number of politicians those whose aims can also accommodate the alleviation of their suffering sometimes predisposes them to wrong choices that can further make them vulnerable.

    I see the following tips as useful to arming the populace with the discernment needed to make right choices in the 2019 elections:

    First, the current mass defections could further worsen the North-South divide given the fear of the northern hegemony that could arise in the event of PDP victory in 2019. The reason being that a northerner is likely to be PDP presidential flag bearer next year. By implication, the informal arrangement of power rotation between the North and the South will be defeated, especially if the PDP candidate further records success in the 2023 presidential election. Given that scenario, southerners will be the real losers should they join the defection bandwagon as the much desired apex political office will be occupied by their northern counterparts for 12 years at a stretch.

    In the circumstance, it would seem wiser for them to either remain in APC to support the re-election bid of the current president or insist on featuring a candidate of southern extraction by PDP – a wish that may not see the light of the day considering the current degree of desperation to counter the current president with his kinsman.

    Again, however right defection is defined, the public should understand that defectors are usually found wanting in virtues such as direction, patience and accountability for a virtuous mind maintains constancy regardless of the challenges threatening their survival.

    The case of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, could be referenced here to support the weight of virtues on political association. The sage could possibly have dumped the Action Group for the ruling party in the First Republic with a view to escaping his trial over treason or gaining access to political spoils at the centre rather than the opposition role he chose to play. It is the lack of such virtues that creates a room for unsuitable elements to hobnob in our political space; hence the continued enthronement of incapable hands that cannot guarantee not only food but security of lives. It should be remembered that there was this kind of exodus movement prior to the 2015 general elections with the golden promises. Jubilation over such political tactics as defection is worthless in the sense that such move further insults the public sensibilities by the elite who do appeal to the masses’ emotions in only their trying times rather than being genuinely concerned with the wanton killings and other plight of the masses in the country that could have been cited by them as the basis for defection.      

     

    • George Oludare Ibikunle,

    Ibadan.

  • Defection: Wamakko shuts down Sokoto for Buhari, APC

    •Says Saraki, Tambuwwal, others will regret leaving APC

    FORMER Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko appears to be the clear winner in the first round of the war of supremacy between him and his estranged political son, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who abandoned the All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday.

    Wamakko, accompanied by his own APC loyalists from the state  in the National and State Assemblies, stormed Sokoto  to the warm embrace of hundreds of thousands of supporters  that stretched  over eight kilometres  from the airport to his Sokoto residence.

    Sokoto was literally shut down as the surging crowd   came out in a show of solidarity with Wammako, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC, dwarfing those pulled by Tambuwal during his defection.

    Immediately the plane carrying the senator landed at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, motorcyclists ran onto the tarmac to offer a guard of honour.

    And from the airport to the town, traffic moved at a snail speed.

    Wamakko, addressing the huge crowd, told them to remain steadfast in their loyalty to the APC.

    He said those who recently defected from the party are “wasting their time as politics is local and we have our base at the grassroots where we all came from, to take APC to greater heights.”

    The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) chairman said he was not in the game of abusive or hate speech politics, but stressed that “the contest is not between me  and Tambuwal but APC and the almost dead opposition PDP.”

    He added:” I am confident that APC is second to none in Sokoto State because all strata of people are with our great party. I am sure that even people in and outside Sokoto know it all.

    “ Our journey, as ever, is synonymous with service delivery, good governance, peace, stability, security and the advancement of economic prosperity through the provision of infrastructure as well the fight against corruption.”

    He said the current political trend would not in any way affect the giant strides of the ruling party.

    “You can see it yourselves from the unprecedented crowd cutting across all sexes, ages and statuses.

    “APC is a party for all and working for all. We are determined to protect your mandate at all levels without any negative recourse.”

    Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Isah Achida described the party as “a beautiful bride” loved by all.

    “Sokoto is for APC, Wamakko and President Buhari.”

    Also speaking, Senator Ibrahim Gobir from Sokoto East Senatorial District said they were confident of the political resilience and determination of APC members   to   resist attempts to cause them to defect.

    “Today, we have two senators, seven Reps and 12 state lawmakers with us ready to work for the victory of the party come 2019.”

    Speaking on behalf of the Reps, Musa S. Adar, berated Gov. Tambuwal and scored him low for trivialising politics.

    He accused Tambuwwal of betraying  “ the trust of Sokoto people.”

    Bala Kokane who spoke on behalf of the immediate past commissioners, described Wamakko as an impeccable political hub and man of the people whose vision cannot be doubted, especially in moving the party towards prosperity.

    At the rally were  Deputy Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tanzania Alhaji Sahabi Isah Gada, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, Abubakar Shehu Wurno, former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman among other notable politicians in the state.

    Abu Bunza, who monitored Wammako’s arrival wrote on Twitter: “I knew Wamakko’s homecoming will be mad today. Those that were busy celebrating Tambuwal’s defection know nothing about Sokoto’s politics.”

    One of the harvests of the rally was the switch to the APC by a former minister of sports, Yusuf Suleiman, who was a PDP governorship aspirant in 2015.

    The former governor had said, earlier in the week ,that those writing off the APC following Tambuwal’s  defection and 18 members of the State House of Assembly to the PDP should wait till this weekend when he would return to Sokoto and see who is in control of the state.

    Over the last few days, a lot of Sokoto residents had been expressing support for President Muhammadu Buhari openly, chanting pro-Buhari slogans.

    Women and youth in particular displayed their joy amidst “Rarara’s” musical songs “Masu Gudu, Su Gudu” (meaning those who want to go, can go).

    Similarly, posters of President Buhari, Senator Wamakko were   displayed in many parts of the state capital.

  • Baba Lekki refines his theory: Defection is shifting cultivation

    And whilst we are still on the subject of defection, it is meet to report that Baba Lekki has had to revise his theory of political migration. As the tsunami of political infidelity and associational treachery threaten to overwhelm the weak ideological foundation of the Fourth Republic, Baba Lekki has been forced to revise his theory in the light of rowdy reality. On Friday morning, the old contrarian shambled in clutching a file containing frayed sheets of paper.

    “Baba no let dis yeye kontri kill you ooo. Dis one day you dey look like person whose head don defect patapata”, the mad boy crowed as he eyed the old man with cynical glee. The old man ignored him and went straight to business.

    “Okon, sit down. In Agricultural Science, political migration is known as shifting cultivation. When you farm a piece of land to infertility and barrenness, you leave it for nature to reverse the ecological damage”, the old man began.

    “Kai baba, dis your brain na Agama..” Okon began drooling but Baba Lekki cut him short.

    “But you see, in political migration there is a difference between sedentary defection and nomadic defection. In sedentary defection, the defectors come back after the land has regained its vitality and resources, but in nomadic defection, the defectors never come back after destroying the cultivation and the culture. They are permanently seeking greener pasture leaving in their wake destruction and great chaos.”

    “Baba, no be dis dem pastor Dele dey call parable?”.

    “ Nonsense. Okon, this is not a parable. This is science”, Baba Lekki shouted as he stormed out.

  • Defection goes viral as dustbin women sweep everything

    Defection has hit the country like the Bubonic plague. Like an over-subscribed contrivance that has been damaged beyond repair, defection itself has become defective. Once a useful travelling kit for Internally Displaced Politicians traversing the length and breadth of the country in search of the next meal ticket, it has now become a weapon of first choice in the hands of Eternally Displeased Political Prostitutes in search of the next promiscuous party. But since all parties are frustrated in their ambition and undernourished in their electoral pleasure, the talisman of defection has lost its power and potency.

    “Oga, dis one na buy and see. Talisman don become tally woman, “Okon summed up things with savage relish.

    “Leave dem, defection go end when everyone don defect from yeye Kontri”, Baba Lekki glumly concluded.

    But you can trust the crazy one to latch on to the defection train. Ever since defection became a buzzword in the nation, Okon has cottoned on to the act with mirth and malice. All acts are laced with defect and defection. Okon could barely conclude a transaction without bringing in the dreaded word.  When his wife gave birth to a baby girl recently, the crazy boy solemnly informed snooper that Sikira had added a defector to the family.

    On Friday morning, Okon slouched into the sitting room clutching his midsection even as his face glowered with mischief and relief.

    “Okon, what is the matter?” snooper demanded.

    “Ha, oga!!! I just go defect for them uncomplete building”, Okon moaned with quiet relief.

    “And what is that?”

    “Ha, oga I go do shot put, as dem Ebonyi people dey call am”.

    “Look Okon, be serious. I have no time for early morning nonsense. What is shot put?”

    “Oga shot put na hot shit, he dey drop gbim. He dey drop kawtawkawtaw”, the mad boy snorted.

    “Ho silly idiot. You mean defecate? That is defecation, not defection”, snooper corrected.

    “Oga, haba, abi devacate no be when dem cancel dem vacation for dem sinators and housassins? Dat one go be expensive shit and he go happen when dem senate dem come resume shitting”, Okon crowed.

    “Ha, Okon on that day defecting train go jam defective locomotive. Na Hiroshima be dat,” Baba Lekki interjected with icy disdain.

    “Ha, oga, Baba don come again oooo. I never sabi say train dey shit oo. And no be when crazy man de drive train dem dey call am locomotif?”.

    It was at this point that the mad dustbin woman lunged into the sitting room with broom in one hand and umbrella in the other. Everybody made a dash through the kitchen.

    “Ha wait now. Sebi defection sweet for your mouth, abi? Wait make I defect your head with dem broom or umbrella” the crazy woman scream

  • Defection: Saraki has stepped on banana peel–Senator Adamu

    The Leader, Buhari Parliamentary Support Group, Senator  Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa),  said yesterday that Senate President Bukola Saraki  should be prepared to bear the consequences of his defection from the All Progressives Congress(APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The former Nasarawa State governor told reporters in Abuja that Saraki, by his defection, had “stepped on banana peel and should be prepared to bear the consequences.”

    ”If Saraki knows political intricacies and the political terrain or the path where the banana peel in political landscape is, he will be more cautious,” Adamu said, adding:”the way he is going now, he has obviously stepped on banana peel and only God knows how far he will slip.

    “I will not pretend. I think he made a mistake and he took a wrong decision. He will have stories to tell along the line.

    “It was not the best he could have done. He had a duty to his father to keep the flag of the family flying but the way he is going, I do not think he is doing that.”

    He then urged Saraki to step down to avert consequences, adding that “he should honourably return the crown or be ready to bear the consequences.”

    Adamu vowed that with the defection, it would not be business as usual.

    He explained that “the defection of Saraki and the other lawmakers is a game changer.

    “We expect them to do it amicably and peacefully. They should make sure they do not run away with our crown.

    “If they think they will go and nothing will happen and that it will be business as usual, then they need to think again.

    “I will not say whether we will take steps or not take steps. We hope that between now and resumption of Senate plenary, more events will unfold. We do not want to be in a hurry to speculate.”

    The lawmaker, however, said that if Saraki insisted on leading a senate with majority of lawmakers from the APC, there would be repercussions.

    On the belief that Saraki did not do anything constitutionally wrong by defecting, and that there was a precedent where former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, defected but remained the Speaker, Adamu said: “It will not happen this time. We are more educated on the rules now.”

    On gale of defections from the ruling party, Adamu said he would not want any member to leave the party again, noting, however, that it was a free world and everyone was at liberty to join the party of his or her choice.

    “Before the defection, we spoke with some of them, but they insisted on defecting with Saraki. We will see where it will take them. They are expecting automatic tickets. For me, it is automatic ticket to failure. They will have and they will fail. Write it down,” he said.

  • Tambuwal returns to PDP with ‘clear conscience’

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state has formally deflected from the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    ” Let me at this juncture state emphatically that I return to the PDP with a clear conscience today,  because the party has learnt some bitter lessons and noted what mistakes it must avoid in the future.

    “It is now a repositioned and forward looking political party to which I now pledge loyalty, in my resolve to contribute towards improving the lives of Nigerians and expanding opportunities for the youths”, Tambuwal stated.

    Others who publicly denounced their membership of the APC at the rally for the PDP included: Speaker Sokoto stae House of Assembly.and his deputy, Alhaji Abdullahi Miagwandu, Muhammadu Arzika Tureta, Bello Kofar Marke, Mukhtari Maigona, Usman Danmadamin Isa, Dahiru Yusuf Yabo,  Isah Bajini Galadanci, Bello Suleiman, Sahabi Tungar Kwangi, Alhaji Muhammadu Dangoggo, Muazu Zabira among other notable APC members believed to be close to Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

    Declaring his new political platform before a  crowd in Sokoto, Tambuwal who gave reason for his defection to the main opposition PDP said” good governance, viz-a-viz economic well-being of our people remain the major reasons for my action today.

    He noted that” Information from National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) shows that over nine million jobs have been lost in the last 3 years, since the APC government came into office.”

    According to him, it was time Sokoto people and Nigerians identified with realities on ground while assuring that “this journey is set to collectively rid the state and country of the immeasurable negative trend of events that have characterised every facet of our lives as citizens.”

    ” We are in dire need to advance the state to its place of glory. We have to fine tune a new political direction  to savage our common collective interests”, he stated.

    Tambuwal said the himself and the people of Sokoto state had to take a stand after wide consultations with relevant stakeholders across the state, adding that” I don’t personalise politics and therefore will ask you to suggest a party.”

    ” In line with the best tradition in any major political decision, especially by a serving elected Governor, I have widely painstakingly consulted far ad wide, if the present political platform is a viable vehicle for achieving the aspiration of our people.

    ” It is because I am convinced that no nation can thrive while there is inequity and bad governance; because I am saddened by the fact that lethargy, incompetence and sustained  denia of obvious leadership missteps have become the major raw materials with which the Nigerian state is being run today”

    The governor however, openly threw to the crowd the option to suggest which party to defect to and in response the anxious gathering chanted” PDP” while he replied: “I will go with you” and the crowd rented the air with slogans “Sai Mutawalle”

    According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives” Nigeria needs competent hands to drive the cause for capable adminstration that will advance its overall interest to prosperity.

    ” The yearnings and aspirations of our people in Sokoto state and Nigeria are paramount.”

    Tambuwal noted that the struggle for democracy dated back to the era of the fight for independence which he stated that it was driven by sacrifice, resilience and determination to rightfully demonstrate the love for Nigerians and the nation.

    ” Now almost four years into what ought to  be a new order as desired and elected by Nigerians,
    sadly, the nation is going through the most difficult and precarious times, since the civil war, with ethno, religious ad regional distrust at its highest ebb.”

    He said” I speak to you today with a mixture of sadness and relief because I did not expect that the APC,  which promised so much when the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) stood under the sway of impunity, could not maintain or manage whatever good it inherited,  has not broken new grounds in any positive sense but has reached historically unprecedented heights of impunity in all manner of vices.”

    According to Tambuwal who could not hide his disenchantment on the absence of federal projects in the state, said” I cannot look those who elected me their Governor here in Sokoto state and boldly point to any meaningful Federal Project initiated in the state under APC government.”

    Speaking earlier, Alhaji Isah Bajini Galadanci noted that the FG under President Buhari came into power with the mission to fight insecurity and corruption “but today things were fast changing negatively with serious insecurity in the northwest which escalated to places where there was no such threats.”

    ” Today, we have nothing to show and campaign to support Buhari and APC. We have not felt the pulse of  a single federal project in the state. Infact, he is an enemy of Sokoto state. He cannot handle Nigeria. People of Sokoto state and Nigeria are waiting for Tambuwal.”

  • Defection: Oshiomhole’s emergence saved APC from collapse, says Okorocha

    •Governor: Oyegun’s tenure disastrous

    THE emergence of Adams Oshiomhole as All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman saved the party from implosion, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said yesterday.

    Okorocha, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, urged APC stakeholders and members to support Oshiomhole.

    He observed that the party would have totally collapsed if the former National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and his National Working Committee (NWC) members were allowed to pilot the APC affairs for another one year as proposed under the tenure elongation plan.

    Okorocha said: “With the scenarios that have played out within the fold of the APC, at the moment and in less than one month after the party’s National Convention, it is obvious that the emergence of Comrade Oshiomhole as National Chairman has saved the party from an impending catastrophe…

    “It can also be argued that some of the proponents of tenure elongation were innocently doing so without having an overview of the entire disturbing picture behind the scheming for elongation of tenure. All these defections, as we all could see, were never planned in the past few weeks. The coming of Oshiomhole just forced the cat out of the bag.

    “With the events too, leaders of the party could now see the wisdom in jettisoning the clamour for tenure elongation for the Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC members and opting for a National Convention to elect new officers. In the circumstance, those who opposed the elongation stuff and insisted on convention should now be commended.”

    The statement added: “One could easily imagine what would have been the case if the party had allowed the Oyegun-led NWC to continue and what would have happened at the party’s primaries, especially that of Presidency.

    “What is happening in the party now could not have been planned and executed within these few weeks Oshiomhole took over as the party’s National Chairman. Rather, his coming only altered the plan of those who wanted to destroy APC to serve personal interests.

    “When the issue of elongation came up, we heard a lot of stories why some of those behind the undemocratic demand were persistent on that. That, there was an arrangement somewhere to shortchange President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential primary for 2019. And with events of the moment, that claim has got an alibi.”

     

    “In other words, Oshiomhole’s coming was timely. He came at the appropriate time. He is on it and will get it right. All we need to do is to support him. APC has come to stay as number one party in the country and even in Africa. And whatever that is happening in the party now are indices of party politics and they have nothing to do with the fortunes of the party, either now or in 2019.”

    According to Okorocha, “In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari will be re-elected by Nigerians. The party will also have more governors and more legislators elected by the electorate because the records are available to show that we have done well in four years compared with the 16 years spent by the other party.

    “Adams Oshiomhole has the political will and all it takes to make APC an institution that we shall all be proud of. We know his capacity and that was why we all supported him. He will drive us safely to our destination by the grace of God”.

     

     

  • Defection: PDP battles crises in Kano, Kwara, Benue, five other states

    •Panel summons Shekarau, Kwankwaso, ex-ministers •Ortom may get re-election ticket, PDP wades in Gemade-Suswam tussle for Senatorial ticket •Party hands over structure to Saraki, as Senate President woos PDP leaders in Kwara •Kogi: Melaye may get ticket, Yusuf likely back in the House of Reps •Dankwambo to determine ex-Minister’s fate, Nafada’s governorship ambition

    The recent gale of defections by top ranking members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sparked crises in at least nine state chapters of the opposition party.

    Kano, Kwara, Benue, Kogi, Gombe and Sokoto are top on the list of the affected states, The Nation can now report.

    The rest are Imo, Adamawa and Bauchi.

    Party sources said yesterday that beneath the euphoria that greeted the defection of one governor, 11 senators and 35 Reps, for now, is immense resentment toward the defectors by current members of the PDP.

    Disturbed by the brewing tension, the PDP leadership has mandated the party’s Committee on Contact and Mobilization to wade in and hold talks with stakeholders.

    The committee is headed by ex-Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke.

    It is scheduled to meet with stakeholders from the affected states tomorrow in Abuja.

    It is understood that the terms of engagement might be negotiated between old PDP members and defectors from the APC.

    The last stage of talks is said to account for the delay in the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State.

    Saraki has spent the last 72 hours to reach out to PDP leaders in the state who are opposed to his return to the party, especially the plan to hand over the party structure to his group.

    Many of such PDP leaders are said to have now backed down on their threat not to accept him back into their fold.

    Investigation revealed that the main challenges facing the PDP borders on party structure in the affected states and power sharing formula ahead of next year’s polls.

    A highly placed source confirmed tomorrow’s meeting, saying: “the PDP leadership has mandated Imoke Committee to resolve the grey areas between defectors and old party members in order to put the party in good stead ahead of primaries.

    “The committee has invited stakeholders in some strategic states like Kwara, Kano, Sokoto, Benue and others for a meeting on Monday.

    “At the session the committee might broker agreement between the key defectors and old members of the party.

    “The major fear is how to create a sense of belonging for all. The party does not want the defections to lead to more complicated problems.

    “The terms offered some defectors had not helped matters. For instance, the PDP agreed to concede the right of first refusal to any incumbent governor defecting from APC to seek re-election.”

    The case of Benue State, according to a party source, is particularly complex.

    “We have a serious case at hand in Benue State where ex-Governor Gabriel Suswam has been sustaining PDP over the last three years,” the source said.

    “But the way the  PDP national secretariat is managing the defection of Governor Samuel Ortom and Senator Barnabas Gemade might lead to Suswam losing out.

    “While the PDP leadership has decided to cede the governorship ticket to Ortom despite protests, Suswam loyalists were shocked that the party is contemplating giving the Benue Northeast Senatorial ticket to Gemade who defeated the ex-governor for the same seat in 2015.

    “We do not know how the party will appease Suswam, who is a key member of the Imoke Committee. The alternative for Suswam is to either defect to APC or engage in sabotage in 2019 if he is politically stripped naked.

    “Having been a long-time associate of the Saraki dynasty, there is suspicion that the Senate President may have negotiated for Gemade.”

    A similar situation is playing out in Gombe State  where Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo is said to be deeply interested in picking his successor.

    His decision is unlikely to go in favour of a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Bayero Nafada who is interested in the governorship seat.

    “All that Nafada has wanted since 2015 is the governorship ticket,” a source said.

    But the governor is said not to be sure of Nafada’s loyalty post 2019 and is therefore not comfortable supporting his aspiration.

    The source added:”the worst case scenario for Nafada is to return to the Senate which might put paid to his dream of governing the state.

    “Also, a former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, who left PDP for APC in 2016 has been holding talks to return to PDP. But stakeholders, especially the governor, who are suspecting that he is returning to the party for the governorship ticket have vowed to resist his defection.”

    Atiku, Nyako want different candidates for Adamawa governorship race

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako are not on the same page on who should fly   PDP’s governorship flag in the state.

    While Nyako  is tipping his senator son, Abdulaziz, Atiku is believed to prefer either Governor Jibrilla Bindow or “any other core loyalist in the mould of ex-Governor Boni Haruna who stood by him between 2003 and 2007 when he had conflict with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.”

    On Kogi State, the source said: “it is apparent that our party might go back to our winning formula of producing the governorship candidate from Kogi East and deputy governor from Kogi West. Short-changing Kogi Central (the Ebira) might create an image crisis for PDP.

    “While some of our leaders have opted for an automatic ticket for Senator Dino Melaye in Kogi West others said it might be a violation of the power rotation formula in the district.

    “If Melaye gets the ticket, the Ijumu-Gbede axis will be occupying the seat for 16 years in a row.

    “The last time Lokoja-Kotonkarfe-Oworo axis occupied the seat was between 1999 and 2007 when Sen. Tunde Ogbeha was their representative.

    “Melaye became Senator with the huge votes from Lokoja-Kotonkarfe-Oworo axis.

    “The emergence of a member of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Yusuf as a senatorial aspirant has added more problem for the Imoke Committee because the Representative is more acceptable to the people of Kogi West than Melaye. The alternative is to allow Yusuf to go for a third term in the House.”

    PDP concedes Kwara structure to Saraki

    A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP said the party leadership has agreed to hand over the party structure, senatorial ticket and senate presidency to Saraki.

    He will also decide those to fly PDP’s flag for the governorship and House of Representatives elections.

    The source said: “the old leaders of the party are however tasking the PDP secretariat on what is on the table for them.

    “It is unknown what will be the fate of stalwarts like former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, ex-Minister of Transport, Ibrahim Bio, Senator Simeon Ajibola (the party’s governorship candidate in 2015); the state chairman of PDP, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo; a former Vice Chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof. Abdulraheem Oba; Yinka Aluko and others.

    “A safe option being explored by the party is for Saraki to reach out to these PDP stalwarts and open up negotiation with them. In the last 72 hours, the Senate President has opened talks on how to co-exist with old PDP members.

    “The under-the-table discussion may  have informed the delay by Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in announcing their defection.”

    No meeting point yet for Kwankwaso, Shekarau, Wali, Gorozo

    Kano State also looks like a hard nut to crack with no meeting point yet in sight for Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso who is returning to the PDP, and ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, ex-Minister Aminu Wali and Senator Hayatu Gorozo.

    “Kwankwaso is demanding 60 per cent of the party’s structure which means his group will produce the governor and other key positions. He also said he will finance the party during the 2019 poll,” a source said.

    “Therefore, he is leaving the 40 per cent to the three other leaders (Shekarau, Wali, and Gorozo) to share. The three leaders have said a guest cannot dictate to the landlord.”

    A source in Shekarau’s camp said: “To compound the challenge in Kano, Kwankwaso is yet to sit down with PDP leaders to discuss on mutual options.”

    Dogara gets concession to return as Speaker, wants to install next gov of Bauchi

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, according to sources, has been given the concession by the PDP to seek re-election in Bauchi State and return as Speaker.

    “But Dogara is not stopping at this concession, he appears interested in installing the next governor of the state with strong backing for a former majority leader of the House of Representatives, Abdul Ningi as against a former Minister of the FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed, who has been sustaining the party,” one of our sources said.

    Mohammed, the source added felt “his probe by the House of Representatives, despite entreaties to Dogara, was a ploy to destroy his political career.

    “Also, the party might favour Senators Misau and Nasif with automatic return tickets although  the PDP will be taking a great risk in view of recent revolts against their performance by their constituents.”

    On Sokoto State, sources said Governor Aminu Tambuwal will be doing battle with a former Deputy Governor, Mukhtar Shagari who has declared his interest in the 2019 governorship race.

    The source said: “Shagari and his loyalists cannot go far. This is more so due to the alliance between Tambuwal and ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa against ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako. The headache of PDP is how to rehabilitate Shagari, who has been a consistent PDP member in Sokoto.

    “Concerning Imo State, PDP might adopt a 50-50 power sharing formula between its old members and anticipated  defectors from APC  like the embattled Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, Senator  Ifeanyi Ararume, a former National Organizing Secretary of APC, Sen. Osita Izunaso and other heavyweights.

    “But the original PDP members prefer a 70-30 power sharing ratio. And if Ararume defects to PDP, he would have foreclosed his governorship ambition. As it is now, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha is the aspirant to beat and he has a firm grip on the party structure in the state.”