No fewer than 42,000 members of the People Democratic Party, PDP, in Adamawa state have on Saturday officially decamped to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, including the former Political adviser to Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak and other chieftains of the party.
Leading the decampees, Mr Gulak said he and other thousand members of the party, were forced to leave PDP due to what he called, “impunity and lack of internal democracy.”
Mr Gulak cited the controversial dissolution of their faction state Working Committee, SWC, of the party by the then Ahmed Makarfi caretaker executives.
‘’Members of the PDP numbering 42,000 across the 21 local government areas including party executives today wish to formally dump PDP and join APC officially.
‘’With this development, we formally burry PDP in Adamawa state.
“Though we are not like others, who kept decamping when their dreams and ambitions were not met.
“Constitutionally we have right to leave and join any other party. Former President Obasanjo had earlier left PDP and tore his party membership card.
“So also former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had first left PDPand joined AC that later metamorphosed to ACN. From CAN, Atiku returned back to PDP that he first left and, before you know it, the former vice president again cross-carpeted to APC and now left it to PDP again.
‘’So everyone has right to change if he or she feels disenchanted and we have made consultations with our people who asked us to move to APC.
“Degrading of Boko Haram terrorists, whose aim is to eliminate the region from the country’s map is enough to justify the defection to the ruling party, and let me assure you that PDP will soon be buried in Adamawa,” Mr Gulak noted.
Salihu Mustapha, APC North-East chairman pointed out that the decamping was as a result of good work of APC administration.
“All federal roads have been awarded for rehabilitations while some has reached concluding state of bidding for awarding by federal government,’’ said he.
Mr Salihu lauded the appointing of sons and daughters from the region into key positions including chef of Army staff, Tukur Buratai, National Security adviser, Babagana Mungono, SGF Boss Mustpaha, and minister of the FCT Abuja as laudable.
However, in his reaction, the state PDP chairman of the party, Tahir Shehu said their defection would be a big relief to the PDP, saying that, “most of them are looking for juicy appointments by Governor Jibrilla Bindow.
“When their hope is dashed, they will also have to look elsewhere. Some of them also have skeleton in their cupboard and are afraid of EFCC’s hammer,’’ he said.
