The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PDM

  • Atiku ‘ll return to us, says PDP

    Atiku ‘ll return to us, says PDP

    Defection: ‘PDM respects ex-VP’s decision’

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has said it respects the decision of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a statement in Minna yesterday, the Niger State PDM Chairman Adamu Aliyu Mohammed said the party wished the Turakin Adamawa the best of luck in his new party.

    Atiku, who is believed to be a strong financier of the PDM, the party he claimed to have co-founded in 1998, last Sunday, announced his defection to the APC.

    Mohammed said he had been inundated with calls on the defection of the former vice president, but advised party faithful to remain calm.

    The party chairman said the national leadership had not taken a decision on the defection, adding that the clarification was necessary because of speculations arising from Atiku’s decision.

    “The PDM respects the judgement and democratic right of the Turakin Adamawa andwishes him well in his new party,” he said.

    Mohammed added that the PDM remained united and focused in pursuing its mandate, which he said was built on ideas and ideals to salvage the country.

     

  • APC to receive 120 defectors in Rivers

    APC to receive 120 defectors in Rivers

    ONE hundred and twenty youths under the People Democratic Movement (PDM) who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on January 1 at Elele community will be received tomorrow.

    The leader of APC in Elele community, Ikwerre local government of Rivers State, Elder Chidi Wihioka, said the 120 defectors sent him a letter with their names and phone numbers titled: Our resolution declaring support for Governor Rotimi Amaechi- led APC in the state.

    Wihioka expressed delight that the defectors chose light and promised they will not regret their decision to join the APC.

    He said: “I noticed they were serious when I saw their letter with names and phone numbers. I welcome their decision to join my great party. I will communicate with the leadership of the party in the state.”

     

  • PDM to participate in elections ‘after congresses’

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) said on Monday that it would only participate in future elections after its congresses and national conventions.

    Mr. Alaba Yusuf, the Media Adviser to PDM Chairman, Malam Bashir Ibrahim, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He said the party would field candidates for any office after its congresses.

    “The party should be through with these processes before the governorship elections in the two states, Ekiti and Osun. It is from the congresses that the party flag bearers will emerge.

    He also said the party would commence the manual registration of members from January next year as the online registration was ongoing.

    Alaba said the manual registration would be done at the various wards across the country.

    He said those that registered online could go to their wards and obtain the membership cards.

    The media adviser also urged eligible voters to come out en masse and vote during elections.

     

     

  • PDM to INEC: You can’t disenfranchise Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against disenfranchising the people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in the 2015 general elections.

    The warning is coming on the heels of a declaration by the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega that election would not hold in the three states where a state of emergency imposed by the Federal Government is still in force.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday by the PDM chairman, Mallam Bashir Ibrahim, the party said INEC should not hide under the state of emergency in the three states to disenfranchise the people.

    Mallam Ibrahim said: “Jega’s latest pronouncement is in tandem with the now familiar strategy of the Federal Government to prolong the insurgency in those states.

    “The plan is to continue emergency rule and use it as an excuse to disenfranchise millions of voters in that zone because the government knows it cannot win a free and fair election in those states.

    “Clearly, there is no love lost between the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan and some sections of the country.

    “It is the constitutional duty of government to cater for the welfare and security of its citizenry. Hence, no eligible Nigerian voter should, on account of insecurity not caused by him or her, be excluded from voting in the 2015 polls.

    “Let the Federal Government resolve the crisis in the North East and all over country in order to have a peaceful, free and fair general election. We will resist any attempt to disenfranchise Nigerians under any guise.

    “Instead of disenfranchising citizens for no fault of theirs, the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled central government should as a matter of urgency, tackle insecurity in the North East.”

    The party also deplored what it described as the deliberate stifling of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which currently has no funds to prosecute corruption cases.

     

     

  • ANSIEC postpones council polls again

    •Party chairmen demand compensation

    •APGA absent at meeting

    For the fourth time this year, the Anambra State Independent Electoral commission (ANSIEC) has postponed the local government election scheduled for December 21. No new date has been fixed.

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was absent at the meeting of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) held at the commission’s office yesterday, but other party chairmen were present.

    IPAC was led by Prince Kenneth Emeakayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the deputy chairman was the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Chief Amechi Obidike.

    The secretary of the group was Mr. Sam Oraegbunam of the Labour Party (LP). Mr. Chuba Ikeagwu of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) was the public relations officer.

    Prince Emeakayi and his colleagues demanded the refund of the campaign and electoral expenses incurred by each party when preparing for the election and the collateral damages.

    The resolutions taken by the parties included: “That the idea to suspend or postpone the December 21 Local Government Election for any reason whatsoever, is unacceptable to the parties in Anambra State”.

    “That we view the screening of our candidates as scheduled by ANSIEC as divisionary and distractive as the commission is not entitled by any law to embark on such an exercise”.

    “That ANSIEC has no power under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) or the relevant electoral laws to reject or disqualify candidates, whose names were submitted to the commission by the parties”.

    “That ANSIEC is reminded that the council poll was originally scheduled for October 5 by the present commission before it was postponed to December 14 and further postponed to December 21 by the commission”.

    “That parties in Anambra State shall deploy legal means to resist any attempt to continue to deny the indigenes the opportunity of local government administration by the elected representatives as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution”.

    ANSIEC Commissioner Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo said the cancellation of the local government election was caused by non-availability of complete voter register.

    He said any other date taken by ANSIEC must be sacrosanct, adding that the scheduled December 12 date was no longer realisable.

    Okonkwo said no electoral body had power to disqualify a candidate, adding that the commission would hold a meeting today to decide when the poll would come up.

    He hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for sending 20 persons to work on the voter register, while ANSIEC, according to him, sent additional 21 electoral officers to assist.

    Parties have urged ANSIEC not to allow APGA to present new candidates for the council poll.

    Speaking on behalf of the chairmen, Emeakayi told ANSIEC members that they had it on good authority that APGA was the cause of the postponements, as the party was still shopping for new candidates when other parties had submitted their lists.

    He said: “We appeal to the commission that parties should be treated equally. What APGA is doing, if it is true, is an aberration. APGA should be restricted to the list of its candidates elected during its primaries in August.

    “Any contrary thing, Mr. Chairman, will not be accepted by other parties. We don’t want to be at daggers drawn with the commission.”

  • Jonathan under pressure to reply Obasanjo’s letter

    Jonathan under pressure to reply Obasanjo’s letter

    NLC, Lagos Assembly, PDM urge lawmakers to probe allegations

    President Goodluck Jonathan remained under pressure yesterday to respond to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter on the state of the nation.

    Obasanjo, in an 18-page December 2 letter, levelled some allegations against Dr Jonathan and his administration, which he said was derailing.

    He also urged the President to respond to allegations that he had been training snipers and a killer squad ahead of the 2015 elections.

    Obasanjo said Jonathan had no moral right to contest in 2015, having promised to spend only one term when he was being nominated in 2011.

    But the Presidency has asked the former president to prove the existence of a killer squad or keep quiet.

    Besides, Jonathan is said to be planning to respond to the allegations.

    To the Nigeria Labour Congress (NCL), Jonathan should respond now to the “weighty allegations”.

    Acting General Secretary Chris Uyot said the President should respond to the critical issues raised by Obasanjo, which, according to him, border on national security and the management of the nation’s economy.

    Uyot also urged the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to ensure that the raging internal crisis in the party does not engulf the country.

    The labour leader argued that since Obasanjo wrote the letter, in which he expressed his view and made allegations on serious issues, Nigerians had been waiting for Jonathan’s response.

    He said: “The issues raised are weighty enough for the President to respond to. One of the issues borders on national security while another borders on the management of the economy.

    “As far as we are concerned, Obasanjo wrote a letter to the President and made those allegations, and Nigerians want the President to respond to this letter. The NLC would respond to the controversy at the appropriate time.”

    Obasanjo had accused Jonathan of taking actions inimical to the well being of the nation in an 18-page letter dated December 2, 2013 with the title ‘before it is too late.’

    The former President, who accused Jonathan of committing anti-party activities against the ruling PDP because of his political ambition, also accused him of training snipers and putting 1,000 politicians under watch.

    The main opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) has asked the National Assembly to impeach Jonathan. The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) called yesterday on the National Assembly to investigate the letter.

    A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDM, Ahmadu Rufai Abubakar, said the issues raised in the letter were troubling and unfortunate.

    Obasanjo had, among others, alleged non remittance of over $7 billion crude oil proceeds to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    “These are grave and weighty allegations indeed. We read, with deep disappointment, the President’s response or, better still, his non-response to these allegations, through his media aide.

    “The decision of the President to ignore these allegations, for now, is quite troubling and unfortunate.

    “It is totally inexplicable and unacceptable that the leader of our nation can assume that the nation can wait until such a time he feels the need to explain these grave allegations, some of which border on treason.

    “By his decision not to respond to these allegations immediately, the President is keeping Nigeria and Nigerians in unnecessary and dangerous suspense,” the statement added.

    The party insisted that Nigerians had a right to know the truth about the allegations raised in the letter, stressing that the President owed the people an explanation.

    The PDM added: “It is not a matter of choice, it is a matter of duty for the President to respond immediately, failing which his government loses the legitimacy to continue to govern and he loses the moral right to continue to lead the country.

    “We view this decision by the President to defer a timely response seriously. We feel it is an abdication of duty and responsibility and it undermines the integrity of the office he occupies. It threatens the unity, peace and political stability of the nation.

    “In view of the above, the PDM calls on the National Assembly to discharge its duty and responsibility to the nation by compelling the President to offer an immediate response to the allegations levelled against him in the letter.

    “We call on the National Assembly to fully and painstakingly investigate these allegations, by asking the President to fully explain himself and absolve himself of them, failing which it should commence impeachment proceedings against him.”

    The Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary also said the National Assembly should investigate the allegations without delay.

    The session, which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Taiwo Kolawole, made the call following a motion raised by a member, Mr. Bisi Yusuf, under “matter of urgent public importance”.

    The House called on Obasanjo to forward his letter to the National Assembly as a petition.

    The House said the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to carry out such a probe,which it should do to save the country from collapse”

    Yusuf described the content of Obasanjo’s letter as “worrisome”. He said Jonathan should respond to the various allegations and should honourably resign his position if the allegations were found to be true.

    Contributing to the debate, a member, Yinka Ogundimu, said the allegations against Jonathan, coming from Obasanjo, could not be dismissed, but should be considered weighty.

    Many other members spoke in a smiliar manner.

    Deputy Speaker Kolawole said: “I want to plead with Obasanjo to send that letter to the National Assembly as a petition that will be investigated.”

    The Northwest Solidarity Forum (NSF) has described the silence of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors on the letter as worrisome.

    In the statement titled: “Obasanjo’s letter: Where are the PDP governors?” the Forum said it was concerned about the content of the 18-page letter “which borders on issues of governance and exposes details of such other issues which should not have been meant for the public space”.

    The statement reads: “While the Forum is still pondering the motivation behind the declassification of the letter by Chief Obasanjo, it is quite surprising that none of the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deemed it necessary to intervene in the matter through measured comments that will engender reconciliation.

    “The silence in the camp of the PDP governors is worrisome to us.

    The statement added: “At this point, the PDP governors who believe in the survival of the Federal Government and the PDP cannot afford to sit on the fence or keep mute.

    “The salvation of our democracy, the political careers and future of the governors should give them a sense of urgency and commitment to the task of working together to pursue peace and success for the Federal Government and the ruling party now and during the 2015 general elections.”

    The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) faction led by Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang described the letter as part of the growth process of the nation and an integral part of democracy.

    In a statement in Abuja from the media office of the Forum, signed by Kassim Yakubu, the Jang-led NGF noted that they were committed to the success of democratic rule in Nigeria and that democracy remains the most viable form of government for the development of Nigeria.

    “A look at the progress made in the states within a little over a decade of democratic rule cannot compare to the many decades of other forms of governments of the past”, adding that “the success of democratic rule is made possible by the participatory nature of the system of government which he says is presently working for Nigeria.”

    As our democracy grows, it is our belief that more and more quality candidates will continue to emerge and this will translate to better governance on behalf of the people.”

    Calling on Nigerians to continue to participate in the democratic process as there is no other form of government that can guarantee the level of choice and participation that comes with democracy, Jang stressed that Nigerians should see the recent surge in political activities as integral to any democratic society.

    “There will always be both positive and negative issues thrown out there just as we are experiencing now with those heating up the polity unnecessarily. Nigerians should however remain steadfast in their confidence in democracy and see all these as part of the growth process as a nation,” the statement added.

  • PDM urges National Assembly to probe Obasanjo’s letter

    PDM urges National Assembly to probe Obasanjo’s letter

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has urged the National Assembly to probe the allegations in the letter by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Ahmadu Rufai Abubakar, the party said the allegations were too grievous to be ignored.

    The statement reads: “We read with consternation and disbelief the letter addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, which was released to the media last week. “The allegations contained in the letter are earth-shaking and troubling…

    “We read, with deep disappointment, the President’s response or, better still, his non-response to these allegations, through his media aide. The decision of the President to ignore these allegations, for now, is quite troubling and unfortunate. More than that, it is totally inexplicable and unacceptable that the leader of our nation can assume that the nation can wait until such a time he feels the need to explain these grave allegations.

    “By his decision not to respond to these allegations immediately, the President is keeping Nigeria and Nigerians in unnecessary and dangerous suspense. Nigerians have a right to know the truth, especially those impacting on his job as president, immediately, not when the President chooses to respond. It is not a matter of choice, it is a matter of duty for the President to respond immediately, failing which his government loses the legitimacy to continue to govern and he loses the moral right to continue to lead the country.

    “We view this decision by the President to defer a timely response seriously. We feel it is an abdication of duty and responsibility and it undermines the integrity of the office he occupies. It threatens the unity, peace and political stability of the nation.

    “The Peoples Democratic Movement calls on the National Assembly to compel the President to offer an immediate response.

    “We call on the National Assembly to probe these allegations by asking the President to explain himself, failing which it should impeach him.

    “We have noticed a familiar pattern of response from the Presidency since the letter was placed in the public domain.”

    Instead of addressing the issues, which the letter raised, the person of former President Obasanjo has come under virulent media attack. Conflating the message with the messenger will not make the message go away. This tactic belongs, in this instance, to the realm of political theatre and constitutes an assault on the intelligence of Nigerians, who can only be assuaged by a cogent response to the issues, not politicising them.

    “There is a time and place for politics and a time and place for statesmanship. The President is well advised to understand the difference. We call on the President to rise up to the occasion and not hide behind the thin wall of ambiguity and suspense.

  • PDM to NASS: Investigate Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan

    PDM to NASS: Investigate Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan

    The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) has called on the National Assembly to investigate the letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    In the said letter, Obasanjo had chronicled alleged atrocities being perpetrated by the Jonathan administration in the various sectors of the economy.

    The Presidency has not responded to the issues raised in the letter.

    In a statement issued on Monday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDM, Ahmadu Rufai Abubakar, the party said the matters raised in the letter were troubling and unfortunate.

    Obasanjo had, among others, alleged non remittance of over $7 billion crude oil proceeds to the Federation Account by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    He also accused the President of training snipers for the purpose of attacking his political opponents ahead of the 2015 elections.

    The statement reads, “These are grave and weighty allegations indeed. We read, with deep disappointment, the President’s response or, better still, his non-response to these allegations, through his media aide.

    “The decision of the President to ignore these allegations, for now, is quite troubling and unfortunate.

    “It is totally inexplicable and unacceptable that the leader of our nation can assume that the nation can wait until such a time he feels the need to explain these grave allegations, some of which border on treason.

    “By his decision not to respond to these allegations immediately, the President is keeping Nigeria and Nigerians in unnecessary and dangerous suspense, “the statement added.

    The party insisted that Nigerians have a right to know the truth about the allegations raised in the letter, stressing that the President owed the Nigerian people an explanation.

    “It is not a matter of choice, it is a matter of duty for the President to respond immediately, failing which his government loses the legitimacy to continue to govern and he loses the moral right to continue to lead the country.

    “We view this decision by the President to defer a timely response seriously. We feel it is an abdication of duty and responsibility and it undermines the integrity of the office he occupies. It threatens the unity, peace and political stability of the nation.

    “In view of the above, the PDM calls on the National Assembly to discharge its duty and responsibility to the nation by compelling the President to offer an immediate response to the allegations levelled against him in the letter.”

     

  • APC and the PDP refugees

    APC and the PDP refugees

    Therever there is war, you’ll find a steady stream of refugees fleeing the conflict zone. No surprise then that the infighting within the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) threatens to unleash a flood of displaced politicians seeking refuge with whatever resembles a credible alternative platform.

    In the real world playing host to refugees can be nightmarish for whoever is at the receiving end. Sometimes communities and countries fearful that the newly homeless could overwhelm them have been known to slam the door in the faces of the desperate rabble. But no such misery awaits Nigeria’s burgeoning breed of political flotsam.

    Unlike the wretched of the earth to be found in war zones from Syria to Afghanistan, those on the verge of walking out of, or being kicked out of the PDP, can look forward to a warm embrace from a string of opposition parties.

    A few days ago the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced that not only was it willing to accommodate the disaffected PDP members, it mandated its own governors to woo their colleagues.

    The newly-registered Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) was ecstatic in hailing the rebellion on the very day it played out on Eagle Square, Abuja. It, too, would gladly welcome the G7 in its ranks.

    That the disgruntled PDP governors have so many suitors is understandable. The ability of incumbents to swing political fortunes in whatever direction they decide is far more assured at state level than at national level.

    Indeed, it is the recognition of that gubernatorial influence which triggered the desperate, but ultimately shambolic attempt to install a pliant person who will dance to the presidency’s tune as head of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    As members of the New PDP have pointed out to their adversaries on National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur’s side, President Goodluck Jonathan, cannot win the 2015 elections without them. Operating as a united team, the ruling party – its diabolical performance in office notwithstanding – still has a chance of clinging to power courtesy of Nigerian-style “free and fair” elections.

    If the rebellion turns out to be irreversible and the New PDP joins forces with the likes of APC and others, that coalition stands a good chance of seizing power. That stark reality is not lost on analysts within the ruling party. It is also the greatest incentive for Jonathan and his people to quickly cut a deal with the troublemakers and keep the unraveling ‘largest party in Africa’ in what approximates one piece.

    Forget the posturing, rumours and finger-pointing: just look at the speed with which Jonathan has rallied to prevent the Abubakar Kawu Baraje faction from slipping through his fingers. From the day of the disastrous convention till now, an unending string of meetings have been holding.

    Even more significant is the fact that the band of rebels for whom a traffic jam of suitors has formed, have been attending the negotiations faithfully. That is not the sort of conduct you would expect from people who have blown up the bridge behind them.

    Everything that has been coming out of those meetings indicates that the president and his people will capitulate and give in to the demands of the rebels. But…

    The sticking point remains whether Jonathan should run in 2015 or not. On the basis of constitutionality it is impossible to bar the president from putting himself forward. But much has been made of some 2011 agreement in which the incumbent purportedly committed himself to serving just one term in exchange for getting northern support to breach existing zoning arrangements.

    All pointers now are that even if such an agreement exists in written form with thumbprints, signatures and legal seal, they will be repudiated by Jonathan. There’s been a lot of huffing and puffing on the part of northern figures over the breaching of that accord.

    We will soon know if such talk is just a negotiating stance or whether it has become a point of principle and deal breaker. Still, we must remind ourselves of the words of one-time German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck who defined politics as the art of the possible.

    It is easy to envisage Jonathan throwing Tukur under the bus, restoring control of party structures to governors in states which have been deliberately factionalised as part of the politics of 2015. The heat and dust generated so far notwithstanding, it will be no big thing to lift the suspension placed on Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

    But then negotiations are give and take. Jonathan can’t be doing all the giving. What does he get in return? Stranger things have happened before in politics; but I will not be shocked if after all the noise, those on the northern flank who have been resisting, surrender to Jonathan’s desire to run for a second term. What will be left will be selling the bitter pill to the party’s supporters in the region.

    Caution! Despite its very public mud fight, the ruling party is not dead. It still holds the presidency and all the advantages of incumbency. It controls security agencies and has shown that it will not shy away from dragging the Nigeria Police into its partisan battles. More importantly, its leading lights will do whatever is necessary to hang onto power – including swallowing healthy helpings of humble pie.

    I am amazed therefore at the naiveté of commentators who take it for granted that reconciliation between the rebels and the Tukur-controlled party leadership is foreclosed, and that the PDP as we knew it is dead and buried. It reminds me of that quote by the famous American writer, Mark Twain: “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

    It would be disastrous for any party or groups of parties to base their short or long term plans for capturing power at the center on the help of PDP decampees. The question such strategists should ask themselves is what if the expected split never materialises?

    Even if the break with the Baraje faction is irrevocable, depend on it that the rump of the party that is left will not go down without a fight. That desperation to survive will make the 2015 polls potentially the most bloody and contentious Nigeria will witness since independence.

    After 14 years most Nigerians have a good idea of what PDP has to offer and given a chance they will deliver a damning verdict at the polls.

    That is why instead of wasting time gloating over the travails of the ruling party, or dreaming that the behemoth will crumble in such a fashion that it will no longer be a credible vehicle for capturing federal power, all serious opposition parties should be defining the alternative they offer in ways that will excite voters, and ensure apathy does not hand the ruling party victory against the run of play.

    We also know that in large parts of this country, ballots count for nothing. In many inaccessible areas votes are simply written – producing voting day numbers that would have embarrassed the likes of Saddam Hussein. The opposition should focus on developing ideas to checkmate the rigging we all know happens, but can do nothing about.

    Unless the opposition plans to defeat a full-strength PDP, it could be disappointed again as the monster recovers from its self-inflicted injuries to entrench itself for its self-proclaimed 60-year hegemony.

  • Obasanjo shuns convention as PDM lauds faction

    Obasanjo shuns convention as PDM lauds faction

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo stayed away from yesterday’s convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Obasanjo, who was the immediate past chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, may have stayed away owing to the perceived disagreement between him and President Goodluck Jonathan over party issues.

    Some of his loyalists, including former national secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, his former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Senator Andy Uba, are currently having it rough with the leadership of the party.

    While Uba is currently on suspension from the party, Oyinlola who lost his position as national secretary of the party has joined the parallel PDP chaired by Alhaji Abubakar Baraje.

    The Baraje faction announced its breakaway from the PDP yesterday with notable figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) in the train.

    Seven serving governors elected on the platform of the PDP have also crossed over to the parallel faction. They are:Rotimi Amaehi (Rivers); Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).