22 aggrieved PDP guber aspirants in Akwa Ibom defect to APC

Twenty two aggrieved governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom State, have defected from the party to All Progressives Congress, APC. The aggrieved aspirants under the aegis of G22 will meet the APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, December 12, 2015. According to reports, the 22 aggrieved aspirants decided to dump PDP for APC on Wednesday due to the controversial PDP primaries on Dec. 8, 2014 in the state. One of the aspirant who pleaded anonymity said they decided to leave the PDP over the insensitive way they were treated by the party in the state, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan could also not amicably resolve the crisis. He added that the crisis finally reached the peak on Jan. 6, 2015 when Jonathan after scheduling to meet with them later declined. “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 on G22. How could the President who has 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 aspirant said. It would be recalled that the 22 aggrieved aspirants had protested on Dec. 8, 2014 against the governorship primaries in the state, alleging that it was not transparent and also accused the party of using a fake delegates’ list.