Umahi’s Defection: Nine PDP governors to join APC – Yahaya Bello
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, said about nine governors of the Peoples Democratic Party will follow Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, to the All Progressives Congress.
Bello of the APC said the present PDP governors are already knocking on the doors to the APC.
He said among the present crop of PDP governors, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, would be the last governor to join the ruling party.
The Kogi State governor spoke on Thursday evening while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
He described Umahi as a believer in the APC policies and administration even while he was a member of the opposition party.
Bello said, “Umahi is with us, others are coming.
“Other governors are already knocking. They are on their way. We will be unveiling them one after the other.
“Wike might be the last to join the All Progressives Congress. Others are lining up.”
Bello said: “I think probably, I can just give you an expo,” he told Channels Television’s political correspondent Seun Okinbaloye who asked him a series of questions on the latest development when he appeared as a guest on Politics Today on Thursday.
The governor added, “The expo I am going to give to you is that Governor Wike might be the last to join this party – the All Progressives Congress, others are lining up. They will soon be here.”
Eight Are Already Knocking
According to Governor Bello, APC is a party that believes in fairness, equity, and justice, with a strong belief in the unity and oneness of the country.
He also believes the party has carried out people-oriented programmes and policies, saying that would encourage more opposition governors to join.
“I said it long ago, not today when the party (PDP) was going through some challenges; I did say that there are 10 governors from the opposition parties that will join APC.
“We have seen one; one that is even as equal as 10, he has joined us, nine to go. Just mark my words; I don’t lie, I will never lie, and I will never deceive anybody,” the Kogi governor stressed.
He added, “Umahi is here with us, more are coming. I am very sure that Governor Wike will be the 10th person (governor) to join the APC, the remaining eight are already knocking, and by the grace of God, we are working all the necessary platform for them to come in here in peace, so they are on their way.”
Controversy continues to trail the defection of Umahi from the PDP to the APC as stakeholders of both parties squabble over the defection of the Ebonyi State governor.
Umahi, a longtime member of the PDP, had claimed he defected because of the “injustice” meted to the South-East region by the party, adding that the APC would protect the interest of the region in the 2023 presidential election.
Bello, who described Umahi as, “The Politician of the Year”, said the governor and the South-East people won’t regret the move by the governor as the APC would protect the interest of the people of the region in the 2023 presidential election.