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Tag: defection

  • Leadership, defection, and  elections

    There is an old saying that a people or  a nation deserve  the leadership  it  has. I want to take issues with that statement today. The title of this piece already is a pointer to how I intend to proceed. In  many  nations of the world this week, leaders  have had to face protests  and outright opposition to their leadership  styles from  both  fervent    supporters  and   traditional  opponents alike. This  is more  so  in  Nigeria where lawmakers  from  the ruling party defected to the main  opposition party  for various reasons  of dissatisfaction with the ruling style of the Nigerian president. Also  in  the  US  it has become the norm in the American  media  to call  the present US President  Donald  Trump  a serial  liar  and a former Intelligence  chief  went  further  and asked  that the president be charged with  treason for daring to parley  with  Russian President Vladmir Putin. We  shall  look at these two  events and issues  in  Nigeria  along with  the intervention of the Nigerian Vice President in the traffic chaos  that literally blocked  access to Nigeria’s  major  port, the Apapa Wharf. We  then look at two  events also  in Asia  indeed, Malaysia  and Pakistan  and  see  what  we can learn  from there in the context  of today’s topic.

    Let  me first  of all make some remarks  that  I  feel  are general to all these issues even though  each  of them  is distinct in terms of its leadership style and context. Leadership to me should be responsive,  firm,  pragmatic, flexible  and decisive. It must be ready to take risks  and be ready  to apologise and  admit  obvious failures in the process of leading  its followership.   Modern   leadership  should  never  be like that of   Frederick  the Great of Prussia who  infamously    once said –‘ My  people and I have reached an understanding which satisfies us both. They  are to say what they  like and I am  to do  as I  wish.’ Of  course Frederick  led  a monarchy which is literally  extinct  or powerless nowadays except  perhaps in Britain and Thailand,   and the   governance  vogue  globally   nowadays is democracy.  But there is no denying that some elected leaders  behave like hereditary  monarchs  once they  have  taken over the apparatus  of power in elective democracies, and that is not only wrong  but pathetically so.  Unfortunately  that  seems to be the situation in Nigeria  and   the defections   from the  ruling party    are a direct  sequence of that. More  of that later.

    In  the US   there is no defection  from  the ruling Republican Party  yet because of what the opposition media led by CNN and New York  Times  have   done  in  successfully  branding the incumbent US president a liar but  there is no denying that such branding  has given a huge dent in credibility  and  respect  both at home and abroad  to  the image of both the US  and  its president   as   unserious entities      who  cannot  be taken  seriously in  the comity  of nations. In  Asia  as I said  before we look  at  the  election  in Pakistan  where  a new PM  is  coming into  office  from  the background of  an  election  so  violent that on election day   a   bomb exploded  and killed  over 30  people  at a polling booth. In  Nigeria  too an    unusual   defection  took  place from the  toothless leadership shown  so far in  controlling   the way tankers and trailers have taken over the traffic  and   bridges   in  the port  city of Lagos when the VP   came   calling  and    gave orders   that  the traffic should flow around  the  Apapa /Badagry   Expressway  and  Lagos,     within 72  hours  and that  really  happened.   Nevertheless   the main commercial  artery   of  Nigeria, the Apapa  Expresway  remains blocked by  a retinue  of trailers   and  oil  tankers  blocking  the entire length of  the three  lane gate way  to Nigeria’s major port. In  a great  way  the  Nigerian VP Prof  Yemi Osinbajo  showed  that Nigerian  leaders can    be responsive    and have empathy    for  the long suffering Nigerian  masses   when   they   want,  and on behalf  of long suffering Lagos commuters, car owners and those who  earn a living by travelling in  the   chaotic  Lagos traffic   daily,  I thank  him  for his yeoman  intervention,  concern  and execution  of the traffic movement  order  which has brought life  peace  of  mind  and  good health in a few  days to many residents of Nigeria’s commercial capital.

    Now   to   Malaysia where we have the oldest leader of  a modern   democracy,    PM  Ahmad Manathir  aged 92  and newly elected, we appraise  his pragmatic  approach  to international  relations and  regional power politics in the Pacific     from  a recent CNN interview.

    We  now go back  to the  defections  from  the APC  in  the Federal Legislature  which is a sign of a sensitive and alert  democracy  and which  the presidency  has described as inconsequential and the new APC Chairman  has waved off as  incapable of  affecting the   party’s  fortunes  at the coming  2019 presidential  elections. Maybe that was why the president called  the defections seasonal. There is no denying however  that some  of the defectors  saw  red and are ready  to leave certainty  for uncertainty because  they  saw  no solution  to their grievances. But  the governments problems known to Nigerians as untreated by the present government  include the Fulani  herdsmen killings, Insecurity, lopsided  federal  appointments  especially  of   the leadership    of our security apparatus  These  are  issues  the ruling party should  address  urgently  to avert  more  defections  as no  leadership  worth its salt  can ignore  protests  from its  fold as that will  be akin to going to sleep  while a  spark  of fire has been seen on a thatched roof.

    In  the case  of the US President Donald  Trump’s leadership  he has shown flexibility on important issues but  is being branded as unpredictable and confused  by his opponents. This week  he met the President of the European Commission and rescinded  his tariffs on steel and aluminium literally, with both sides pledging to a future of free  and fair trade, But  his detractors saw  no merit  in this since he too has called the media the No 1 Enemy  of the people.  Funny  enough Trump’s  core   supporters  have not defected or abandoned him  as even  the CNN polls   acknowledged  but  there is need  for the US president  to be more accommodating of opposing view points especially  when  offered  in good faith.

    In    Pakistan  it  is clear  that  the military  have  taken care  of both the Bhutto  and Nawaz Sharif political  dynasties  and have backed former  Cricket  star  Imran  Khan  as Pakistan ‘s new PM. We  shall  soon see  how long the romance can last.  Even  then the Bhuttos and  Sharifs  have a  long  history  of taking on the military   in  Pakistan  and either returning  to power or getting killed in the process.  Time will  tell  what  the outcome  of this last  election will be.

    On  a CNN interview  Malaysia’s  old PM  Mahathir  Mohamad   made  some  educative  comments on  China and US,  the two  major powers controlling the Pacific region where his nation is located. He said Malaysia is not as strong as China  and must  learn  to trade and make the best  of China’s  bullying on claiming ownership of   the   South  Seas  Islands  of other nations in the area. That  to me is good   diplomatic    pragmatism.  Regarding  his earlier pre – election pledge to hand over to his former pupil  and later opponent,  with  whom  he rallied to  win the last election,   he    nevertheless   promised  to  carry on,  if the people preferred  he should  continue in power,  even  though he had  been elected on a pledge  of handing power over to his   young  ally after two years on account of his old age.  That showed  a veteran  politician’s  love of  power  at  all costs  and   at  any   time.  Which  too is a  defection from  reality which  itself  breeds  ultimate  defection from power  which  seems to  be  sweeping,   in the  legislature, the rank  and file of  the ruling party in Nigeria. Once again long  live the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.

  • Defection: APC remains strong, says Gbajabiamila

    The Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, on Friday said the exit of some National Assembly members from the All Progressives Congress(APC) would not undermine the strength or the popularity of the ruling party.

    Gbajabiamila spoke in Lagos while presenting fire extinguishers and balls to traders in markets in his Surulere constituency.

    Five markets in Surulere benefited from the items presented by the lawmaker at the New Tejuosho Ultra-Modern Market.

    Gbajabiamila said APC remained strong despite the defection of lawmakers mainly to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He maintained that the development had not eroded the faith of Nigerians in the ruling party.

    “It is no more news that some National Assembly members announced their defection from our great party to other political parties.

    “For some of us in the house, we had expected it. There had been so much noise about the defection plans before Wednesday both at the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    “In fact, what they were saying was that about 80 and 70 of them were leaving, but at the end of the day, the threat did not reflect the reality, as only about 32 or so left the APC.

    Read Also: Defections, indication opposition is set to rescue Nigeria – Okowa

    “Let me assure you that the APC is still much on ground, even with the defection. The party still remains strong despite the development.

    “Go to the North, the South, the East, the popularity of the APC is soaring by the day. Nigerians have great faith in our party.

    “This defection will not distract the APC from its course of doing its best to the generality of Nigerians,” he said.

    The lawmaker said the majority of those who defected used to be in the PDP and had returned to where they truly belonged.

    He explained that APC was built on strong and sound development ideologies that were only shared by genuine leaders.

    Gbajabiamila said the presentation of the items was in redemption of his electoral promise to impact on people in Surulere.

    The lawmaker said the gesture was also help promote safety in the markets in the area, with the ultimate goal of protecting lives and property.

    He urged the traders to put the fire prevention materials to good use in order to protect lives and valuables from fires.

    Gbajabiamila thanked the people of Surulere for their support for him, saying he would continue to do his best as their representative.

    Also speaking, the APC Chairman in Surulere,Alhaji Shakiru Ajao, commended the people for their faith in the party and the lawmaker.

    He said the party would continue to deliver the goods to better the lots of the people of the area.

    The Market Leader of Tejuosho Market, Alhaja Naheemat Fadimuluyi, thanked the lawmaker for the items, promising good use by her market and other markets.

    She said the leadership of markets in the area would also engage traders on the need to adopt safety precautions against fire outbreaks.

    The market leader also promised to support Gbajabiamila in his efforts at impacting on lives in Surulere.

    Officials of the Federal Fire Service in Lagos were at the occasion to demonstrate how to use the safety materials to traders.

  • Former APC Senators, Reps to work for Buhari – Presidency

    The last may not have been heard about the Tuesday’s defection of 13 Senators and 37 House of Representatives members from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The Presidency Thursday said that it has received the commitment of the defectors to work for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2019 election.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, made the stunning clarification at a press briefing in Abuja.

    Enang noted that most of the defectors expressed intention to work for and with President Buhari to ensure his re-election in 2019.

    Read Also:Buhari: defection a seasonal occurrence

    He said that the defectors came to the conclusion to work for Buhari’s re-election because they were convinced that their problems were domestic and internal to the political structure of their respective states which had nothing to do with President Buhari.

    Asked to name defectors who gave the assurance to work for Buhari in 2019 Enang parried the question.

    He simply said, “It will be improper and breach of confidentiality for me and for the persons to be named but I have had discussions with them. Most of them are coming back and most of them are defecting to political parties that are not challenging the APC.”

    Asked whether Senate President, Bukola Saraki was invited to the meeting President Buhari held with APC senators at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, Enang said that the senators were led by Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan.

    The presidential aide said that National Assembly members should bear in mind important pending issues even as they go on vacation.

    Enang said, “These senators by virtue of their procedure have not yet fully and effectually deflected but have expressed intention to defect by the procedure.

    As a political party interacting with the leadership of the APC and other parties there is a lot of room left “for conciliation and reconciliation.

    Again all the grievances expressed by the Distinguished Senators and Honourable members non is attributed or directed to  President Muhammadu Buhari nor his actions or any action or commission or omission  of the President or the Federal Government.

    “In my interaction pre and post expression of intent to defect by the Distinguished Senators and members,  all the dramatis personae, the Distinguished Senators and Honourable members expressed their solidarity and support for Mr. President and  expressed categorically that their grievances and consequent actions are not directed against President Buhari nor his reelection in 2019 but domestic actors in their constituencies political fields such as the governors, state party leaders or frustration over zoning or indeed calculations for a return ticket or platform  for 2019 elections.

    “Indeed a great number of them have indicated that even if they pursue their bid on different platforms, they will still campaign for President Buhari in 2019 on the platform of the APC.

    “What have been done by the Distinguished Senators and Honourable members are group notice to switch camp.  It is inchoate and lives windows, doors and rooms for further consultations and resolutions because our party, the APC minds and cares for all members in or out of office.

    “Like the Holy Bible enjoins, if you loss one sheep out of hundred, preserve 99 and go and search for the lost one sheep.

    “ I believe that all if you saw perhaps this morning that at the interactive between the distinguished Senators of APC and M. President which lasted till the early hours of this morning, some of the Distinguished Senators who expressed defection to other parties or intended defection have returned to the fold of the APC.

    They were with Mr. President and those who were not there, because the notice was short some of them could not return and most of them will still be joining further interaction within the weekend with the leadership of the party.

    “There has been a lot of return and a lot of calm on the family of the APC.

    “The executive, president and ministers will keep working with the legislature with respect due their offices and person and keep working with them as legislators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who make laws for the executive to execute irrespective of their individual political decisions while leaving all options open for conciliation.

    We will be praying the legislature, the leadership, membership to consider that there are many matters of very urgent nature which are pending before the legislature and unless considered, the functioning of certain institutions of the government will be hampered. If you recall a lot of the funding for the 2018 budget was budgeted to come from some external sources.

    The request for approval to raise funds from these external sources is before the legislature and unless considered it may hamper the level of implementation.

    Again, before the legislature proceeded on vacation, Mr. President also laid before them the request for virement, this also will be affected.

    Mr. President had earlier on laid the request for the application of some security funds for the purchase of Tucano jets to fight insurgency that is still pending.

    There is also the budget which is pending. You remember the president laid before the National Assembly some times in November last year the 2018 budget. It was the budget of the Federal Government and the budget of the government-owned corporations, what has been passed in 2018 is the budget of the Federal Government and the budget of the Federal Government corporations has not yet been passed.

    “You know that these budgets also include provisions for employment, provisions for capital spending which will affect the run of the economy, functioning and a lot other economy unless the legislature considers this, the executive is very law abiding and will not do a thing which the law requires the legislature to do, to approve first before it is done unless it is done. We will be praying the legislature to consider the emergency implications of this and decide to come out of this and consider this within the period of the vacation.

    “We accept that some exigencies may have caused the abridgment of the time within which they were to proceed on vacation.

    “We will be working with them to ensure that we have few of these considered and passed within a time that it will still be reasonable to attain the purpose of the economy.

    “All of them have said that they do not have a problem with the president.

    “These persons have expressed intention to work for and with President Buhari; all these are domestic and internal to the political structure of the respective states and has to do with the 2019 electoral calculations.

    “Some of them are questions that have to do with zoning. The president said that he is aware of the issues that they have. The questions that have arisen in this matter are party matters domestic to the different states. The national office of the party is handling the issues.”

  • Red card, defections and other stories

    IT was just a matter of time before it happened. All has not been well within the  ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the coaliton of parties, which wrested power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

    The APC, their beloved party, some members alleged, has become more like PDP when it was in power, if not worse. Most of these aggrieved members were from the rump of PDP, which walked out of the then ruling party’s convention in Abuja.

    That action was the beginning of PDP’s fall from power. Among the protesting party chieftains then were governors, senators and House of Representatives members. In no time, they formed the New PDP (nPDP) on which platform they joined forces with the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to form APC.

    In the past three years, APC has pursued with zeal its programmes, which are aimed at making lives better for the people. APC’s fight against corruption and the recovery of looted funds have, however, brought it in collision with many people, including some top members of the party. Rather than support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war, they are against it because as they claimed ‘’it is selective’’.

    The crisis in APC today can be located in the anti-corruption war and the relationship between the leadership of the National Assembly, on one hand, and the Presidency and the party’s leadership on the other hand. Not to talk of that with some governors.

    Many lawmakers do not fancy the anti-graft war, which they feel is directed at some of them, and this has further caused a division among these erstwhile political friends.

    APC was the party many Nigerians looked forward to, following its formation, to make a difference in their lives. As at the time it was formed, the people were fed up with PDP. It is, therefore, unfortunate that today, the same APC, which was expected to bring hope and consolation to them is in crisis. Will this fresh crisis engendered by the defection of 51 of its National Assembly members comprising 14 senators and 37 representatives affect its political fortune? This is the question the party leadership must answer.

    The defectors will never wish the party well, just as those who left PDP for APC plotted the then ruling party’s downfall in the 2015 elections. To lose 51 lawmakers at one fell swoop is not something to brush aside with a wave of the hand. Some of them may have climbed the backs of others to get to power, as the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, observed on Tuesday shortly after their defection, but tell me who is that politician that does not need a strong backer to rise.

    These are trying times for APC. Just imagine what it is going through when it is yet to complete its first term in office. It is obvious that the defectors’ aim is to scuttle the party’s chances in the 2019 elections. After severing relations with the party, there is no way they will ever wish it well. Their loyalty now is to the PDP to which many of them have returned. It is not even certain that we have seen the last of these defections, which Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom hinted about last week.

    Ortom also crossed from PDP to APC on the eve of the 2015 elections and was given the party’s governorship ticket. He won the election, with the support of Benue strongman Senator George Akume. It seems Ortom and his godfather have fallen apart and the governor is afraid that he may not get a second term ticket. Last week, the governor whose state is under the siege of herdsmen said he had been given a ‘’red card’’ . A red card when he is not a footballer? Well, it was a manner of speech. Ortom, who has the sympathy of his people because of the killings in his state, said he is now out of the pitch as a result of the card. ‘’I am waiting for another club to sign me’’, he told his people.

    What the governor was saying in effect is that he too may jump ship if nothing is done to reassure him of his place within the party. Oshiomhole has told him he has nothing to fear, but it seems he does not believe his chairman. The governor is still going around talking about the red card. It is also not certain that more people will not leave the party at the National Assembly. The defection of the 51 on Tuesday may have been to prepare the ground for the next set of defectors. One name being touted to quit the party is Senate President Bukola Saraki, who got that position contrary to the party’s wish. Will Saraki defect?

    All signs are that he will because many of his loyalists are among those that defected on Tuesday in the National Assembly. In his home Kwara State many of his supporters have also been leaving the party. Saraki and his men are fighting the party for not according the Senate president the respect they think he deserves. To Saraki, what has been happening to him in the past three years, is political persecution. He said the time wasted on such persecution could have been spent on making lives better for the people.

    This is a delicate issue which the APC must handle with tact because of the forthcoming elections. It is not good to lose members when elections are near like this, so the party must move fast to do damage control. You cannot be too sure about elections. No two elections are the same. That the people voted APC and Buhari in 2015 does not mean that they will do the same in 2019. The defectors have their own plans; the APC should come up with its and not assume that they are political paper weight.

    Like what happen before the 2015 elections, the aggrieved APC members have formed the Reformed APC (rAPC). With rAPC, they have signed a pact with PDP and 38 other parties to slug it out with APC in the 2019 elections. What is APC’s response to this challenge? It should not make the same mistake as the PDP did in 2015 when the then ruling party dismissed  APC’s threat of wresting power from it as nothing.

     

     Agony of a dad

    THERE was pin-drop silence as he spoke at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday. He did not give his name nor did he allow his photograph to be taken. He was in pain, serious pain. His wife and daughter were burnt in the June 28 Otedola Bridge tanker explosion. He spent over N4 million on them in a private hospital before moving them to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

    He is not satisfied with the treatment they are getting, so he wants to move them abroad. The only snag is that the passport of the girl, who is his only daughter, has expired. She cannot be moved in her condition to any of the Passport Offices in Lagos for capturing (taking of her picture). So, he is begging Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to help in getting the authorities in Abuja to bring the necessary machine down to LASUTH for the girl’s capturing. Nothing can beat a father’s love for his daughter. I know that the listening Governor Ambode will hearken to the man’s cry. May his wife and daughter live.

  • Defection: Senator receives ADC flag

    The Senator representing Adamawa Central, Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako, Wednesday received the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flag and banner as a symbol of the admission of the lawmaker into the party.

    Senator Nyako was one of the 14 senators who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to ADC on Tuesday.

    National Chairman of the ADC, Chief Raphael Nwosu, who presented the symbol of the party to Nyako described yesterday as a special day for the party.

    Nwosu said that it was instructive that Nyako, unlike most Nigerians, left a party in power to join a party in the making.

    The senator’s defection to ADC, he said, was indicative of a politician who has service to humanity in mind.

    Insisting that “destiny beckons on Nyako” the party chairman noted that it was obvious that Nyako would go places “not only in Adamawa but also in the country.”

    He said, “Nyako has distinguished himself. He has become a catalyst for transformation of the country. From him we are going to paint the National Assembly ADC. Nyako is the kind of Nigerian ADC is looking for because our party is for the youths, women and for everybody. We are making history today as we hand over our flag and banner to him to fly all over the National Assembly and beyond.”

    Nyako said that he was elated for the honour the party did to him.

    He promised to fly the ADC flag to greater height.

    The senator who said he appreciated the fact that there were high expectations, noted that God will make everything possible for him.

    He said, “I am from Adamawa State which is very complex. In Adamawa, we have 87 ethnic groups. There about 300 ethnic groups in Nigeria. If we have 87 ethnic groups in our state, that means we have a quarter of the ethnic groups in the country.

    “There are lack of empowerment programmes in the state to enable the youths to empower themselves. Anywhere you plant poverty, what you reap is hunger. Once you have hunger what follows are clashes and conflicts. Our people are extremely poor and hungry and they are killing themselves. Everywhere you go in Adamawa; there is one problem or the other.”

    On why he left the APC, Nyako said that they tried in vain to convince the APC leadership to appreciate the grave injustice done party members in the name of party congress in the state.

    He said that ward congress was conducted in only one ward in the state while the picture was painted that ward congresses were conducted in all the wards.

    He said that they were determined to salvage the situation.

  • Defection: Kwankwaso must abide by the rule – Shekarau

    Former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has described the defection of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso from APC to PDP as a welcome development but urged him and his supporters to abide by the rules.

    Recall that Shekarau, a founding member of the APC had to leave the party for Kwankwaso in Kano when serving governors who dumped the PDP for the APC were asked to lead the party in their states.

    The former governor who spoke through his media aide, Sule Ya’u Sule, said he hoped Kwankwaso had changed.

    Many fear that those who defected to the PDP would have to fight for supremacy in their states where some chieftains had institutionalized themselves in the last three years.

    Read Also: Defections: The drama, the facts

    “I hope the PDP has received a reformed Kwankwaso. I hope it is not the old Kwankwaso I knew,” Shekarau said.

    “I hope he will this time around abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP. I hope he will not repeat what he did after he joined APC in 2015. At that time, he took over everything leaving us with empty hand,” he said.

    Shekarau regretted that the party they had laboured for at the end  handed over the leadership of the party to Kwankwaso in 2015.

    “I hope Kwankwaso is not coming to PDP to repeat the injustice he did in 2015. If everybody will be allowed to play his card according to rules of the party, that will be better for him (Kwankwaso) and every member of the party,” he said.

  • Buhari: defection a seasonal occurrence

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described the defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the National Assembly as a seasonal occurrence on the eve of elections.

    He assured his party members that the defections would do no harm to the party at the elections.

    In a statement by his media adviser Garba Shehu, President Buhari while wishing the defectors the best in their future undertakings, expressed his total commitment to the values of democracy, freedom of choice and a total willingness to work with all members of the National Assembly, irrespective of their political party, for the benefit of the nation.

    The President said none of the defecting federal lawmakers of the APC had any specific grievance against him or the government he leads; neither did he harbour anything against any of them.

    The statement said: “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 commended the leadership of the APC for relentlessly working for its unity and ensuring success in the upcoming elections.

  • We did our best to stop defection – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) tried hard to stop the defection of party members to other parties.

    He was reacting to the mass defection of some APC members in the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday mainly to the Peoples Democratic Party.

    The full text of his response published on his Facebook page reads:

    “I wish all of our party members who today defected, the very best in their future undertakings. The APC has done its best to stop the defections, and I must commend the party leadership for working tirelessly to unite the party and position it for future victory.

    I am confident that no harm or injury will be done by these defections, to the APC and its aspirations. I urge party faithful to not despair, but to instead see this as something that happens in seasons like this, on the eve of elections.

    Read Also: 32 Reps dump APC for PDP, four for ADC

    As the saying goes, all politics is local. We understand that some of the Distinguished and Honourable lawmakers have issues in/with their home states, especially on zoning which bars some of them from seeking another term in their constituencies.

    Let me also note that none of the defecting federal lawmakers has any specific grievances against me or the government I lead; neither do I harbour any ill-feeling towards any of them. I fully respect their freedom to choose what party to associate with.

    I am using this opportunity to restate my total commitment to the values of democracy, as well as my total willingness to work with ALL members of the National Assembly, irrespective of their political party, for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Muhammadu Buhari”

  • Oyo senators deny decamping to PDP

    The two senators from Oyo State, whose names appear on the list of defectors to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the floor of the Senate Tuesday, Adesoji Akanbi and Monsurat Sunmonu, have denied defecting to the major opposition party.

    In separate statements, the two lawmakers described the listing of their names as an error which they must correct to members of the public.

    But while Senator Akanbi said his name was wrongly included in the list, adding that he raised a point of order to correct it at the floor of the senate, Sunmonu said she only defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Read Also:Defection: PDP gives Saraki, Dogara, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, others two-week deadline

    Sunmonu, in a statement, explained that her defection was due to the crisis in the Oyo State chapter of the APC, stressing that genuine reconciliation was not being pursued.

    “Today, 24 July 2018, a letter was read during the Senate Plenary announcing the defection of some senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Please be advised that my defection is as a result of issues within the APC Oyo State Chapter.

    “As we know, politics is local and despite the rhetoric, there has been little or no effort at the state level to reconcile differences by incorporating various stakeholders and interests.

    “I hereby declare affiliation with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).”

    In his own statement, Akanbi emphasized that he was still a member of the APC, adding that he was loyal to the party and its leadership. The statement read: “It was to my great surprise to hear that my name was listed among APC senators defecting to the PDP on the floor of the Senate Chamber by the Senate President. I remain an APC member and the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District. This is to put the record straight. I am a progressive to the core. I remain loyal to my party and its leadership.”

    A total of 15 senators had been listed to have defected to the PDP at the Senate in a move interpreted by many political watchers to be the first step in allowing the PDP to take over the leadership of the Senate under Senator Bukola Saraki who is also expected to defect to the PDP.

  • Defection: No cause for alarm, APC assures members

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) said it respect the right of Nigerians to freely belong to any political association of their choice, saying in spite of the defection which has made the party a minority in the state, there was no cause for alarm.

    APC said it will continue to work hard to reposition the party for greater efficiency.

    Reacting to the defection of some members of the party to the opposition party the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi ask party members across the country to remain calm as the party still have control of about 25 states in the country.

    Read Also:Defections from APC good riddance – Oshiomhole

    The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) notes the development in the National Assembly with the defection of some of our members from the Party.

    “In the last couple of weeks our Party leaders have worked to stave off this situation as responsible Party leaders would do. 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.

    “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.  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.

    “We assure members and supporters that our great Party will continue to consolidate on our majority status in the build-up to the 2019 General Elections, even as our government continue to work hard to deliver on our promises to Nigerians.”