APC leaders, rebel govs’ meeting rattles PDP

The leadership of the Peoples
Democratic Party was rattled by the
meeting of the leadership of the All
Progressive Congress and some of the
aggrieved governors of the Peoples
Democratic Party in Sokoto, Sokoto
State on Tuesday.
The APC leaders, who were in Sokoto
for the inauguration of the Sokoto State
University , where the meeting was
held, were a former Head of State, Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and a
former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu.
Members of the New PDP who were in
attendance were the governor of the
state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko; Governors
Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Rotimi
Amaechi (Rivers); and Sule Lamido
(Jigawa).
Three of the aggrieved governors, Aliyu
Babangida(Niger), Murtala Nyako
(Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed
(Kwara), were absent at the event.
However, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Mallam Aminu
Tambuwal, was at the event, where no
Federal Government official was
present.
Investigations by our correspondent
showed that the meeting of the APC
leaders with the rebel governors was a
topic for discussion among members of
the National Working Committee of the
PDP on Wednesday.
A member of the committee, who spoke
with our correspondent on condition of
anonymity, said it was almost certain
that the rebel governors were out of
the ruling party.
He said the NWC of the party was
surprised that the rebel governors were
no longer hiding their disdain for the
party.
He said though the issue was not on the
agenda of the Wednesday’s meeting,
the matter was discussed informally
among the NWC members.
The source said, “Though the gathering
was about opening of a university, why
was the event dominated by those who
are against us?
“We have been hearing that these
governors are planning to defect to the
APC. Maybe that was why they invited
the leaders of the party and used the
opportunity to concretise their
discussions. We are watching.”
Reacting to the issue, the Deputy
National Publicity Secretary of the party,
Mr. Ibrahim Jalo, told our correspondent
that the party believed that the
gathering had no political undertone.
Jalo said the party believed what
Wamakko said, which was that the
event was for the inauguration of the
state university.
He said, “The event was a mere
gathering. We also believe that it was,
according to the governor, meant to
open the state university as stated by
the governor.
“Apart from that, we believe that these
people are free to meet and discuss as
guaranteed by the Constitution. The
Constitution guarantees freedom of
association.”
However, the party said it had directed
party leaders in zones, states, local
government areas and wards to
establish disciplinary committees in
accordance with its constitution.
A statement by the National Publicity
Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa
Metuh, said the action was in tandem
with the “focused determination of the
national leadership of the PDP to ensure
discipline and loyalty at all levels.”