Some leaders of a faction of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, on Monday afternoon gathered in Abuja to sign a memorandum with opposition parties for the 2019 general elections.
The Reformed APC (R-APC) members were led to the Monday event by their leader Buba Galadima.
The R-APC faction is believed to have the backing of Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. The actions of the faction have been condemned by the APC leadership.
TheCable reported on Monday that three northern governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are on their way to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) any moment from now.
As many as 30 senators and 70 members of the house of representatives are expected to follow suit before the national assembly goes on recess in the next two weeks.
Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Samuel Ortom (Benue) are said to be in the “first batch” of APC big wigs expected to defect, according to the report.
“The plan also is that some APC governors will not defect but will remain behind to inflict maximum damage on the party from within,” a southern governor reportedly said on Monday.
On Monday, Mr Galadima met with leaders of opposition parties like the PDP and SDP to sign the memorandum of understanding.
Apart from Mr Galadima, others at the Monday meeting from the PDP include Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a senator, Dino Melaye, and Akwa Ibom State Governor; Emmanuel Udom.
A former senator, Ben Obi, who briefed journalists, said the parties gathered to sign a memorandum for a coalition that will take over power in 2019 and ensure the defeat of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC.
He described the 2019 election as a battle between light and darkness, saying the coalition is the light that has come to rescue Nigeria.
He said the signing of the memorandum is a signal to the ruling APC and the international community that they are ready to take over power in 2019.
More to come…
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