22 PDP big boys in Akwa Ibom dump Party, join Buhari in APC

Twenty two aggrieved governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State, otherwise known as G22, have finally defected from PDP to All Progressives Congress, APC.

It was learnt that the 22 governorship aspirants of the PDP in the controversial December 8, 2014 primary in the state decided to defect from PDP to the APC on Wednesday.

Consequently, they will meet the APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, January 12, 2015, to finalize their integration into the party.

One of the aspirants, who spoke to Punch on condition of anonymity, said their decision was based on the shabby way they were treated by the PDP leadership in Akwa Ibom and the Presidency.

“This inhuman treatment is only meted out to G22. How could the President, who had met with individuals like Senator (Musiliu) Obanikoro and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume not meet 22 aspirants of the party? Is the President saying that they do not count? Then let us see how the party will win in Akwa Ibom State.”

Funny enough, this is the same thing PDP chairman, Adamu Mu'Azu was complaining about when he said there was too much "using and dumping" in PDP, especially by the governors and the presidency.

The aspirant also said President Goodluck Jonathan could not find a solution to the crisis. He said the crisis came to a head on January 6 when Jonathan, after scheduling to meet with them, later declined.

He said, “The President’s last minute decision was said to have been masterminded by a fifth columnist. It could be recalled that the (members of) the G22 have been in Abuja since December 9, 2014. Both the party leadership and the President are playing games with them without finding a political solution to the issues and without using the party’s mechanism to redress their complaints."