The 2023 general election has since began to change the Nigeria’s political psychology, with major stakeholders and gladiators in the country making instantaneous political configurations to aptly position themselves and their parties within the suitable and favourable firmaments before going to the poll.
It’s the most expected each time we approach balloting year – politicians move from one political party to another depending on the individual motives and the tinge of such movements. But, the dominant aim is basically to win the battle in the field.
From the time when the former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (Wazirin Adamawa) emerged as the 2023 Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), political permutations have been visibly triggered within the polity, notably among them was the decamping of spacious figure of political bigwigs into the fold of the PDP.
Recall that, recently, the former Governor of Kano state who’s also the Senator representing Kano Central in the national assembly, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was readmitted into the PDP where he was received by Atiku Abubakar, Ifeanyi Okowa, and many PDP stalwart in well-attended event in Kano.
In what was seen as foremost political knock-back to the ruling APC, Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita representing the Katsina North Senatorial District which is the President Muhammadu Buhari constituency, has dumped the party for the PDP.
Also, before the dust risen from Kaita’s decamping settles, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew and member representing Daura/Sandamu/Mai’Adua federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Fatuhu Muhammed, has dumped the ruling APC. Though, the young lawmaker is yet to announce his next political party, there are speculations that he’s joining the PDP.
Equally, Senator Francis Alimikhena representing Edo North Senatorial District; Senate Majority Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North Senatorial District; and former Governor of Kebbi state and Senator representing Kebbi Central, Adamu Aliero have formally and separately decamped to the PDP.
The PDP’s sweeping tides and broom burning fiasco continue in virtually all parts of the country where decampees are always receive into the PDP in drops in grand rallies across the states.
In the President Buhari’s home state, Katsina, Nineteen thousand, five hundred (19,500) members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Baure Local Government Area of the State have reportedly dumped the ruling party for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In Kogi state, the 2019 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, alongside over fifty thousand supporters in Ihema, Okehi Local Government Area of the State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The tidal wave also hits Kwara state as no fewer than 10,000 aggrieved members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have dumped the party for the opposition’s Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The decampees who cut across the 16 local government areas of the state were received into the PDP by the former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
It’s all over the country, under the leadership of the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Peoples Democratic Party, in Akwa Ibom State has received no fewer than twenty thousand decampees from opposition political parties across the 329 wards of the state.
In his home state of Adamawa, the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has recently led chieftains of the party including former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, the Vice Presidential candidate and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa; Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and National Chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu to receive decampees of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the PDP.
Though, the crux of this piece, but the above highlights has evidently depicted the facts that the ruling APC is gradually hemorrhaging ahead of the 2023 general election and PDP is weathering the storm.
In fact, one of the most auspicious gains by the PDP is the recent return of one of the valuable political assets not only in the North east, but in Nigeria as a whole, Senator Idris Abdullahi, former Minister of Transport who has served under the erstwhile administration of President Jonathan. Barrister as he’s fondly called has double-edge advantages for both the PDP and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, he has unmatchable leadership and administrative skills cum unwavering political handiness and dexterity.
Sen. Umar was instrumental to so many transformations and remarkable feats achieved by the previous administration not only in the ministry of transport but in all the critical sectors of the economy, he’s an asset to whoever is opportuned to have him in his fold.
As a funding member of the PDP, he has huge political credentials, he was member representing Yamaltu Deba Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives for eight years under the PDP.
Sen. Umar has also represented Gombe Central Senatorial District at the Senate between 2007 and 2011.
Since the day he returned back to PDP with his overwhelming supporters, Sen. Umar has been tirelessly working towards the general success of the PDP at all stages. Beyond his efforts to reposition the Party in Gombe state, he was at the national arena participating in all activities, he was in Yola and Kano where decampees were received into the PDP including Sen. Shekarau.
As 2023 general election is fast approaching, with people like Sen. Umar in the party, PDP would be the party to beat.
Sani writes from Gombe
