Saraki, Dogara, Kwankwaso, others set to join PDP
- Senate president Bukola Saraki, Dogara and the nPDP bloc in APC are reportedly set to defect to PDP
- It was earlier reported today, Wednesday, July 4, that former governor of Kano, senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, allegedly defected to PDP
- Some of the nPDP members, including Saraki, former Adamawa governor, Murtala Nyako, and a senator, Dino Melaye, are facing corruption and other charges
The former new PDP bloc of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to announce its exit from the mainstream of the party in preparation to joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Premium Times reports that arrowheads of the group include Senate president Bukola Saraki, speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and a former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
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Legit.ng gathered that according to Premium Times, multiple sources said that the faction would address a press conference later on Wednesday, July 4, to announce the decision.
The announcement of the formation of what is tagged the ‘new APC’ is said to be the first step in what would lead to a coalition of political parties and interests, to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari.
The faction, comprising some former governors and ranking lawmakers, has been in a tug of war with the APC government.
Some of the nPDP members, including Saraki, former Adamawa governor, Murtala Nyako, and a senator, Dino Melaye, are facing corruption and other charges.
A number of the faction’s chieftains also complained about being left in the cold during the party’s congresses that took place between May and June this year.
Four governors and other ranking PDP members, including Saraki, jettisoned the party in the run off to the 2015 polls, shoving up the chances of the then opposition APC.
But since forming the new government, many fault-lines started emerging, with the elements from the PDP bloc complaining of marginalisation.
Premium Times reported that a chieftain of APC who has been critical of the Buhari administration, Buba Galadima, confirmed the impending press conference.
He, however, declined disclosing details though he did not refute that a new faction of the ruling party was going to be unveiled at the venue.
“I don’t want to preempt it,” Galadima, who was secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari’s former party, said.
But a source familiar with the horse-tradings disclosed that the press conference today would herald merger of various blocs ahead of the election.
“There have been discussions and a memorandum of understanding drafted among the interest blocs that would take care of everyone’s interest going into the PDP,” the source said.
According to the source, those going into the new alliance include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), believed to be backed by former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to Premium Times, calls placed to spokespersons of Saraki and Dogara Wednesday afternoon, July 4, were not answered, adding that ext messages sent to both Yusuf Olaniyonu, Saraki’s media aide, and Turaki Hassan, Dogara’s spokesperson, were also not replied.
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The media further reported that Kwankwaso’s spokesperson, Binta Spikin, was however unreachable Wednesday afternoon, July 4, as calls placed to her known telephone number did not go through.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that a former governor of Kano state and senator, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, reportedly dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as talks continued between the party and members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) faction.
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Source: Legit.ng
