Politics of defection and the soul of APC in Jigawa
Political crisis surrounding the alleged defection of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members has rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in Jigawa State. The crisis has its genesis in the alleged pact the state governor had with members of the (PDP) loyal to the immediate past governor of the state, Sule Lamido.
Daily Trust learnt that the alleged pact included the plan for the defection of the concerned PDP members to the APC.
The alleged defection plan is said to be responsible for the delay in the formation of the state cabinet as those intending to decamp are said to be allowed to produce 20 percent of political appointees expected to be named by Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar.
This arrangement, according to insiders, is considered as part of the conditions to seal the deal even though core members of the APC have vehemently rejected the move.
It was gathered that the purported new deal does not go down well with some APC stalwarts who think it can prevent them from benefiting in the government they laboured to install and also take the control of the party away from their hands in the future.
The loyalists of Lamido are said to be more groomed and grounded, politically, with better financial muscles, having been in the government for the past eight years.
There are fears that if they are finally accepted into the APC fold, under the purported deal, it may mark the beginning of endless crises in the Badaru-led government.
There are insinuations that the governor has made his position known to all stakeholders that the party’s doors are open to whoever indicates interest to join the APC.
But some members of the APC argue that those intending to join are being wooed, instead of allowing them to join the party voluntarily.
On Sunday, a member of the House of Representatives from the state, Muhammad Gudaji Kazaure, kicked against the planned defection of the PDP stalwarts, saying their people are not ready to accept runaway politician.
He said that all the 11 House of Representatives members from the state were inundated with calls from their constituents who are against the move.
“Our constituents have rejected the planned defection. The people of Jigawa have suffered for 8 years in the hands of the PDP and they struggled during the recent elections to change the government…Their coming into APC will only signal a bad omen.”
Apparently disturbed by the looming crisis, Badaru was said to have held series of meetings with the party’s stakeholders in the state to avert a crack in the party.
A source close to Dutse Government House told our correspondent that the governor and the APC chairman, Alhaji Ado Sani Kiri, have been holding closeddoor meetings in order to address the development.
Daily Trust also gathered that some aggrieved APC members have threatened to dump the party, while others considered the option of forming an opposition block to protest the purported arrangement.
Speaking to Daily Trust, on condition of anonymity, one of the elected public office holders on the APC platform described the alleged governor’s romance with members of the opposition PDP as worrisome and a great threat to the unity of the party in Jigawa State.
He faulted the alleged pact, saying it is capable of disintegrating the party and pulling down the government.
He, therefore, urged Badaru to tread with caution in his bid to court the opposition parties.
On whether the internal squabble was responsible for the delay in the formation of the cabinet, he said: “I wonder if that is the reason why governor Badaru is delaying the constitution of his cabinet. But one thing that is very clear is that making PDP a part of the cabinet is quite illogical and it is in total contrast with the aspiration of the Jigawa people who voted for change.
“This is an injustice. It is unacceptable to our party and its members. We are against it. We will challenge it from here to the national headquarters, even if it warrants taking the matter before our father, President Muhammadu Buhari, we will do so.”
While some pundits think that the governor is misled by some chieftains of the party before taking what they called an unpopular decision, others point an accusing finger at a former governor of the state, who purportedly wants to use the platform to settle an old score with his successor.
Reacting, Badaru debunked the allegation that he had a pact with members of the PDP intending to defect to the APC. He called the allegation false, baseless and a figment of the imagination of the author of such statement.
The governor, who reacted to the insinuation through his spokesperson, Malam Bello Zaki , described the allegation as an evil machination of detractors whose plan was to distract the present administration from the business of governance.
“Like any other government or political party, politicians from the opposition are always welcome, especially when they want to join hands for the development of the state. So, it is applicable anywhere. Politicians from the opposition party who want to join our great party will not be denied.
“I, therefore, wish to call on our teeming party members to disregard this allegation because it is baseless and should be treated as such by all.
“The state government is also assuring them that their sacrifices and hard work will never go in vain as efforts have reached advanced stage to unveil a cabinet that every loyal party member and people of the state will be proud of.”
Further findings reveal that Hon. Bashir Jumbo, a four-time member of the House Representatives, is leading the defectors.
Alhaji Lawal Danzomo, a former commissioner during former governor Saminu Turaki’s administration and Alhaji Hassan Malam–Madori, a special adviser to former governor Sule Lamido, are also alleged to be leaving the PDP.
Others said to be leaving are Alhaji Daguro Muhammad Hadeijia, Bala Safiyanu, Saleh Taki, Yahaya Bigman and at least 15 serving local government and their supporters.
Daily Trust gathered that former Lamido’s deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud Gumel, who decamped to the APC just before the last governorship election, was saddled with the responsibility of wooing the PDP members.
The state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Mahmuda Kuit, told Daily Trust that he was not aware of the move.
However, Lamido’s close aide and his former special adviser on youth, Comrade Danjani Umar, said that some of the people mentioned would decamp to the APC, adding: “Lamido told them that those who can’t endure four years of opposition are free to join the party in power but also warned them that there will be consequences in the future.”