Massive Defection Of PDP To APC Prior To Governorship Election

National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu
The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday suffered a massive defection in Kwara, Edo, Niger and Ekiti states, following the emergence of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) as president-elect.

This is just as the PDP governorship candidate in the 2013 governorship election in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, is set to defect on Wednesday (today).


A governorship aspirant of the PDP in Kwara State, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, and the state PDP youth leader, Chief Segun Olawoyin, on Tuesday formally defected to the All Progressives Congress.

Both PDP leaders addressed their numerous supporters to follow them to the APC.

While Saraki addressed her supporters in Ilorin, Olawoyin addressed his supporters in Offa, Kwara State.

Olawoyin said he defected to the APC in the interest of his community.

Saraki said she defected to the APC because of the alleged PDP marginalisation of women in the state.

She added that PDP lacked the blueprint and commitment to develop Kwara State.

Also, the Kwara State governorship candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Omotosho, and ACPN adopted Governor Ahmed, and all APC candidates for Saturday’s House of Assembly elections.

In Edo State, former Governor of Edo State, Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor, on Tuesday announced his defection to the APC

Osunbor, who was governor from May 2007 to November 2008, announced his defection along with his supporters at Iruekpen, in Esan-West Local Government Area of the state, few hours after a former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Idada Ikponmwen (retd.), defected to the APC in Benin.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who received the former governor and other defectors, attributed the defection to the will God and the performance of the party in the state.

He, however, restated the need for people of the state to support the party at the state House of Assembly election.

Oshiomhole said, “I will be working with a respected Professor of Law like you and many of your supporters. We thank God for what he has used us to achieve.”

In Niger State, over 5,000 members including 10 immediate past local government chairmen of the PDP defected to the APC.

Niger State APC chairman, Alhaji Jibrin Imam, made this known while receiving the defectors at a ceremony in Minna.

“On behalf of my party the APC and the powers conferred on me, I formerly admit you into APC,’’ he said.

The APC in Plateau State has also received the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Saturday’s election, Mr. Bagudu Hirse.

Hirse was joined by his Mega Party counterpart, Mrs. Elizabeth Yirse, as both called on all their supporters to join them in the new party and to vote massively for the governorship candidate of the APC, Mr. Simon Lalong.

Unfortunately for the ruling PDP, the defection came amid speculations that the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ignatius Longjan, may also join the APC.

Addressing newsmen in Jos on Tuesday, Hirse, who spoke on behalf of others, said they were disenchanted that the ruling party did not abide by the zoning arrangement agreed by the people of the state.

In Ekiti State, a PDP chieftain, Senator Ayo Arise, joined the APC. The APC was said to have put pressure on Arise for a while to dump the PDP. The deal was, however, sealed after a meeting between the chieftains of the APC and the senator in Akure, the Ondo State capital, this week.

In Kaduna State, the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, received over 5,000 PDP members ahead of Saturday’s elections.

The Vice President-elect also noted that the ruling PDP had caused great harm to the country, using religion to cause divisions among Nigerians.

Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.