The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has suffered a heavy loss as 22 aggrieved governorship aspirants, otherwise known as G22, have reportedly dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC). The 22 governorship aspirants of the PDP in the controversial December 8, 2014 primary in the state decided to defect to the APC on Wednesday, December 7. Speaking with Punch on Thursday, one of the aspirants who pleaded anonymity said they left the PDP because of the way the party in the state treated them. He explained that after President Goodluck Jonathan scheduled to meet with them, he declined later. He added that Jonathan could not find a lasting solution to the crisis. The aspirant 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. “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.” The G22 will be meeting with the presidential candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, January 12, 2015. It would be recalled that the aggrieved aspirants had December 8, 2014 protested against the governorship primaries in the state. They said the exercise lacked transparency, accusing the party of using a fake delegates’ list.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 18:38:55 +0000