by ‘Jola Sotubo
Baraje: read the declaration
After months of speculation and negotiation, the 7 governor members of the “New PDP” have officially decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governors, who were due to meet President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday, made the final decision to move to the opposition party today.
The development was announced by the Chairman of the faction, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, at a meeting which held at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge in the Asokoro area of Abuja.
PM News reports:
Abubakar Kawu Baraje, chairman of the breakaway faction of the PDP read the statement which formally switched the allegiance of the group to the APC.
Both the APC and Baraje group had met for some hours before reaching an agreement to merge their political forces. And Baraje announced a statement signed by him and Chief Bisi Akande, interim chairman of the APC, that the two groups have decided to merge, “to rescue our fledgling democracy and the nation”.
In attendance were Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Governor Wammako of Sokoto state. Former governors, Bukola Saraki, Timipre Sylva and Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa states were also there.
The interim chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande received the governors. Also at the ceremony were Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and General Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu, in an interview with newsmen after the declaration said: ‘What has happened today is significant for our country. What is important is not the numerical strength but the character and commitment of people committed to change”.
