Though in a veil manner withou mentioning names, the embattled new Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has declared that he is already reaching out to PDP members who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC; and there have been good responses on their desire to return to the party, Punch Newspaper reported
Sheriff, who through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Inuwa Bwala in Abuja on Saturday spoke to a Punch Newspaper correspondent, did not mention any name of the defectors he is said to be in contact with.
He, however, stated that the controversy that trailed his appointment was as a result of alleged panic in the camp of the ruling party.
He said the APC leadership was aware of his capability to unite the members of the PDP and also bring back those who defected to the APC, hence the controversy on his appointment.
Bwala said, “We have started reaching out to those who left the PDP and we are discussing already.
“We are getting positive results from them, but we won’t go to the pages of newspapers to announce their names.
“The APC and its leadership are aware that Sheriff has the ability to unite the members of the PDP and also bring back those who have left the party.
“This was why we had the initial controversy on the appointment. But now, we have thrown that behind us as we have resumed work fully.”
High-profile of PDP defectors who dumped the party for the new ruling All Progressive Congress are; Dr. Bukola Saraki, the President of the Senate; Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Rivers State governor and the new minister of Transport, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, among others.
Meanwhile, Bukola Saraki, since his emergence as the Senate President has been at loggerhead with the leadership of the APC, following his connivance with the PDP members to become the President of the Senate against the APC’s anointed candidate, Ahmed Lawan. He is currently facing a tough legal battle in his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, who is trying him over alleges false assets declaration.
As for Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representative, he is also believed to be a very close ally to the PDP members in the lower legislative chamber, following the support he got from them to emerge against his party’s choice candidate, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamima. The APC members have been accusing him of favoritism to the PDP members against the APC in his recent appointment of principal officials and Committee chairmanship.
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