Some prominent members of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Notably, the NNPP former national chairman, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali and the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Kaduna state, Senator Sulaiman Othman Hunkuyi, joined the APC.
Also, the governorship candidate of the NNPP in Benue 2023 elections and ex-national legal adviser of the party, Prof. Bem Angwe, alongside 23 others from the NNPP and the People’s Democratic Party PDP have defected to the APC.
The APC National Chairman, Dr Umar Ganduje received the new entrants on Tuesday, at the party headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Alkali said they joined the APC because it is the ruling party, adding that the party was the best vehicle for political progress in Nigeria.
He said, “Today, we have all decided to move forward with the APC. In our view, with the new mood in the country, both His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu and the new leadership of the party under your able and distinguished chairmanship, both of you veteran politicians, APC has shifted the gear and you have also opened a new page in the history of party politics in the country that is more welcoming and more accommodating.
“The good news we are bringing to you and to the APC today is that we are here just as representatives of the multitude of hundreds of thousands of our supporters, friends, associates and well-wishers within the NNPP and PDP nationwide who were earnestly waiting for this historic day.
“As the events of today come to an end, we shall all go back to our respective states, local government areas and our wards to commence the mop up operations to ensure that no one is left behind in this great journey of salvaging our nation. This will happen and APC shall be celebrated under your excellency’s watch,” he said.
In his remarks, Ganduje expressed joy in receiving the new members into the party.
He also stated that an association named ‘Kwankwasiyya’ has hijacked the once booming NNPP which eventually led to its fall.
He however promised that the defectors will be engaged in the activities of the APC and carried along in the scheme of things.
