Skip to main content

There were fears among the All Progressives Congress chieftains on Friday, November 24, following the defection of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar from the ruling party.
PUNCH gathered that although the APC was expecting Atiku’s exit, it dawned on it on Friday that the former vice-president’s action could lead to mass defection from the ruling party.
It was learnt that the fears were worsened by the feeling of some leaders of the party that the fate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2014 could befall the APC before the 2019 elections.
In 2014, the PDP was weakened following the exit of some governors and National Assembly members, including a former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso; ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; Senator Bukola Saraki, and the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Chieftains of the APC said although the ruling party had been waiting for Atiku’s defection, it was uncomfortable with the fact that there were many aggrieved members who would soon dump the party in power.
One of the party leaders cited Kwankwaso and a former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as two of those who were not happy with the way the party was being run.
He said more than two years after coming to power, President Muhammadu Buhari had not made appointments that would bring into government those who worked for his election.
The chieftain also said that associates of the President including the Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari and Buhari’s nephew, Maman Daura, “have constituted themselves into a powerful cabal. They take key decisions in this government. Those who ensured Buhari’s election have been sidelined. If the APC and the Presidency dismiss Atiku’s defection, they are not realistic. There are fears that the party may crumble. Apart from the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, there are other appointees of this government that are supporters of Atiku.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SSS 3 student wins NSE 2017 Essay Competition

NSE 2017 ESSAY COMPETITION Miss Olasubomi Gbenjo, a 15-year-old student of Good Shepherd Schools, Meiran in Lagos State, on Wednesday emerged winner of the 2017 Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Essay Competition. Gbenjo, an SSS 3, emerged winner out of the 10, 100 entries received from the Senior Secondary Schools category. She won the competition with her outstanding essay entitled: “Investors Education Critical to Investors’ Participation in the Capital Market’’. She received a N250, 000 worth of shares, N500, 000 scholarship for university education, a laptop, certificate of participation, three sets of computer, a printer and headlining the closing of the stock market. Also, Master Opeyeoluwa Olanipeku, a student of Orita-Mefa Baptist Model College, Ibadan, Oyo State, came second, while Miss Oluchi Chuwkuemeka, a student of Notre Dame Girls Academy, Amoyo from Kwara, won the third prize. Olanipeku received N200, 000 worth of shares, N400, 000 scholarship for university ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Intels Drags FG to Court over Deportation of 102 Expatriate Staff

Alex Enumah in Abuja Intels Nigeria Limited has dragged the federal government before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the government’s deportation of about 102 of its expatriate staff in Nigeria.  The company in the legal battle initiated by its counsel, Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN), has therefore sought an order of court, granting it leave to apply for judicial review of the decision taken by the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), revoking the residence/work permits of 102 expatriates in its workforce.  The Comptroller General of NIS, Muhammed Babandede, had on November 15, 2015, issued statement announcing the revocation of the residence/work permits of Intels expatriate staff in Nigeria. He also issued a directive that the said persons should leave the Nigerian territory on or before November 30.  Intels is owned by former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, who recently dumped the President Muhammadu Buhari-led ruling All Progressives C...
Post a Comment
Read more

Atiku: In pursuit of a life time ambition

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC). His next point of call is unknown. Will he return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or form a new party to acualise his presidential ambition? Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the struggle of the Turaki Adamawa for the presidency.  It was not beyond expectation. Yet, it was the most important political event of last week. The decision was predictable. The ruling party was not caught unawares. Now that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the question is: what next? The eminent politician has kept Nigerians guessing. Will he retrace his steps to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he deserted, ahead of 2015? Will he take a refuge in one of the smaller parties? Will Atiku form a new party, nurture it and contest on its platform for the presidency in 2019? Although the former vice president has cal...
Post a Comment
Read more