File photo: APC chairman and other party officials (Photo: PT/NAN)
After reports that 15 senators and 36 members of the House of
Representatives on Tuesday, left the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC), with the majority joining the opposition Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
Few hours later, the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole,
who reacted to the development, has said that he is happy that some
members of the Senate and House of Representatives left his party for
opposition parties.
While speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said those who left are “mercenaries” who were in APC just to win election, adding that the governing party is “not disturbed at all” or losing sleep over the defections.
He said, “I insist that I will not miss a sleep one minute over
mechinary activities. I have said and I want to repeat, this business of
governance must be driven by men and women of honour.
“If the only motivation is personal interest, what is the need
for me, what have I gained, if that is the basis, the earlier for those
in this business for personal gain return to where they belong, the
better.
“The party that I am privileged to chair is not worried at all, we are not disturbed, I am not going to miss my sleep.
“Go to the campaign, check the electoral results you will find
that a lot of those who claimed to have decamped on a good day, the
votes they got that made them members of the senate, our President got
much more votes in their constituencies. So, we are not fooled at all.
“The thing going on is that we have a lot of so-called big masquerades with very little or no electoral value.”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress has released an official
statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji
Abdullahi, on the National Assembly defections.
Read in full below;
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) notes the development in
the National Assembly with the defection of some of our members from the
Party.
“In the last couple of weeks our Party leaders have worked to
stave off this situation as responsible Party leaders would do. It would
appear however that the individuals involved have different
considerations beyond the grievances that they were willing to discuss
and which our leaders were willing to address.
“As a truly democratic party, we respect the right of every
citizen to political association. Therefore, we urge our members to
remain calm as we continue to work hard to position our party strongly
for the next general elections. APC remains in firm control of 25 states
of the 36 states of the federation and maintains a clear majority in
the federal House of Representatives and state assemblies.
“We assure members and supporters that our great Party will
continue to consolidate on our majority status in the leadup to the 2019
General Elections, even as our government continue to work hard to
deliver on our promises to Nigerians.”