AHEAD 2019 ELECTIONS: SARAKI, DOGARA,KWANKWASO OTHERS SET DATE TO QUIT APC

Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and other prominent Politicians, including Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who moved from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the now ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2013, have fixed a date to collectively move to another party, a credible source has revealed.

June 23, which the source revealed as the said defection date, is symbolic, as it is the day the ruling party would hold its National Convention, to elect new Leaders.

A top Politician familiar with what is going on in the ruling party, maintained that the New PDP members, led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje, had concluded plans to move out of the APC.

“Convention is very important for any political party, because it is the creation of the party’s constitution, and any decision taken there is binding; it can make and mar any political party no matter how strong it is”, the source said.

Beth News gathered that if the aggrieved New PDP members go ahead to leave the APC on June 23, it would re-create the scenario in 2013, when former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, alongside some Governors staged a walkout from the PDP Convention.

Shortly after, they announced the formation of the New PDP at the Yar’adua Centre, the development paved the way for some PDP Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, among others, to join the APC, which went ahead to defeat the then ruling party in the 2015 Presidential election.

“The New PDP wants to score a big point by leaving the APC on the day of its Convention. Decisions taken during Conventions or extraordinary meetings carry weight; enough to put a political party in coma”, he said.

“Sadly, handlers of the APC at the highest echelon of power are not doing the needful. It is suicidal to allude that the New PDP members do not have political value, it is not true.

“Agreed they joined the APC when many of them were Governors, such as Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, but all these people are still strong in their States; they have followers and when they leave, it would tell on the fortunes of the party, both at the National and State levels”, he said.

Another source stated that the New PDP members decided to move ahead, because there were no indications that any of their grievances could be addressed.

“Look at the State Congresses, with the exception of few places, Governors have taken absolute control of all the machineries from the Ward to State level. This means those who lost out, of course, the New PDP members, would most likely have to fall on their knees, for them to get tickets to return to their current positions”, he said.

According to him: “Another factor is that during the National Convention, the Governors would have absolute say and determine who gets what. Do you expect the Governors or other forces to allow anyone who is not with them to become even an ex-officio? So the New PDP members have no option, but to pull out.

“I suggest that President Buhari calls for another meeting; let him spearhead the reconciliation himself. Yes the VP had done his part, but what the President would do would carry more weight; let him concede to some of the New PDP
demands, especially in terms of appointments… there are vacancies in many places.

“He should also assure those with elective positions, such as Senators and Reps. that there would be free and fair primaries, and should live by his words. He should give ‘shadow appointment’ to other aggrieved members. What do I mean by this? He should assure them of good recognition after the 2019 elections. This would reduce tension in the party, which is necessary ahead of the 2019 elections”, he said.

“I am sure many of them would agree and relax, but this does not mean that others would not go no matter what you do to them… The President must be seen to be uniting the party himself”, he added.

In reaction, Kwankwaso’s Media Aide, Binta Spikin, said that she was not aware that June 23 has been fixed for the defection of the New PDP members, including her boss.

“No date has been fixed for our pulling out of the party. It may interest you to know that most people have gone to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.”

The Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Saraki, Yusuph Olaniyonu, could not be reached for comment.

A PDP member, who did not want to be named, disclosed that they are aware that series of meetings are taking place regarding the return of the New PDP members to the PDP, and that they would be glad to have them back.

“You know what goes around also comes around. When they (New PDP members) left the PDP, everybody was clapping. Now they have gone there and felt how it is to be in a strange place.

“Look at the way they are being treated, as if they are not APC members. They caused us a lot when they left, and now it is payback time for APC. We are aware that the New PDP members have made up their minds to return home, and we are ready to harvest them bountifully”, he said.

Asked when the New PDP members will return to PDP, the source said: “I am not aware of any date, but all I know is that they ae returning soon. Their reconciliation in APC has already broken down, and they have made up their minds to return. They are only waiting for the time.

“For us, this is a plus. We will receive them and treat them well, because we used to be together. So, there is no big deal about it.”

A source close to the New PDP members, also alluded to the fact that ditching the party is one of the top agenda of the members, but that he was not aware if they have fixed any date.

“All I know is that they are ready to leave the party. The only thing that will stop them, is if the Presidency does something reasonable to stop them.

“For example, you cannot say you will deny the Speaker (Dogara) return ticket. You can give him the ticket and allow him to face his opponents during the general elections.

“For me, if they deny him ticket, that will be embarrassing. But whatever it is, they can go anywhere they want. I am a Buharist to the core; I will not go anywhere”, the source said