Defections: Lawmakers predict trouble for APC ahead 2023

With the defections, last week, of four Senators from the APC to the Peo­ples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Labour Party (LP), some federal lawmakers have predicted difficult times ahead for the ruling party in the buildup to the 2023 polls.

The spread of lawmakers in the Upper Chamber is now APC 66, with PDP, Young Peo­ple’s Party (YPP), All Progres­sives Grand Alliance (APGA), NNPP and LP members of the minority parties standing at 43.

At the resumption of plena­ry on June 14, APC Senators, Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), Lawal Yahaya Gumau (Bauchi South) and Francis Ali­mikhena (Edo North) cross-car­peted to other political party; and on June 22, Senators Ezen­wa Francis Onyewuchi moved from the PDP and Dauda Jika moved from the APC to the LP and NNPP respectively.

In letters submitted to the leadership of the Upper Cham­ber and read at plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad La­wan, the lawmakers lamented among others, that their party primaries were poorly conduct­ed and that state governors hi­jacked party machineries to their disadvantages.

To stem the gale of defec­tion, APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, in company of members of the National Working Committee (NWC), on Friday, stormed the National Assembly where he held a close-door meeting with the APC Caucus of the Senate.

But Senator Abba Moro (PDP Benue South) described Adamu’s visit as “one visit too late,” adding that the APC failed to take proactive steps towards addressing the grievances earli­er expressed by her lawmakers.

His words: “If you heard the narrative at the Senate and the letters that have been written, it is not as if these things hap­pened suddenly or that people didn’t know.

“The parties were aware; where Governors had hijacked the electoral process complete­ly and the people affected have been crying and complaining very bitterly and nobody cared a hut for them until they have decided to take their destinies in their hands now and then you go to visit.

“For instance you go to vis­it members and you ask peo­ple who have defected to come back to the party that you will address their case; how are you going to address it because most of these people have gone to other political parties and they have picked their tickets.

The deadline for submis­sion of names of candidates has elapsed, so, how are you going to address it? The na­ture of grievances on ground can certainly not be addressed in the circumstances of our electoral laws and so, I do not see that visit achieving much.

“Of course, maybe for those who are still waiting to defect, it may affect a few of them. But I can assure you that it is not go­ing to stop the fate of defection going forward.”

Senator Moro, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territo­ry (FCT), told Sunday Indepen­dent that the APC risks losing the 2023 general elections, as “it is not going to be business as usual in the next election in 2023.”

He continued: “Certain things will have to be given, and certain seats will have to be giv­en against the backdrop of the movement of very high profile personalities across the parties. And also seeing that the major reasons they are giving is the distorted process of primaries.

“Before now, the people have not been that much and of high profile nature. But recent­ly, especially after the primaries all these parties have had their own fair share of criticisms of what they have done wrong and what they have not done at all.

“And that is the major rea­son why you find people mov­ing from one place to the other, especially from the APC. Come to think of it, it is unimaginable for instance that a whole Sen­ate leader will contest for the governorship of his state and you’re saying ridiculously that he scored zero in the primaries.

“Meaning that even among the people of his ward, not a sin­gle person voted for him. I think it is not correct. And it is very unfortunate for us, and I hope it will impact very seriously on the electoral process in 2023.”

In his remarks, Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) criticized the wave of defection at the National Assembly, not­ing that the situation is a mor­al issue and has the capacity to affect the fortunes of the party in the upcoming poll.

“If the APC fails to handle the issue of defection and they became a minority in the Na­tional Assembly, it has a moral effect and it certainly has the capacity of affecting the 2023 elections against the party be­cause the National Assembly, the Senate, once it is taken over by the opposition in an election year, they have the capacity and the capability of swinging pub­lic opinion and vote against the ruling party.

“What I can tell you is that the expectation of many Sen­ators is that since one of them has become the Chairman of the party, they were expecting to have an automatic ticket. One of the demands they made to him when he became the APC Chairman is to give us auto­matic tickets.”

This is as he revealed that only the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, can pacify the lawmakers and stop them from working against the party in the upcoming elections; insisting however that the national chairman has nothing to offer them.

 “Now, considering the fact that many of them have lost their primaries, they have nothing to lose in the Nation­al Assembly. Also, he cannot promise them anything be­cause right now the party it­self is grasping for breath and for life.

“So, nothing will pacify these Senators other than giv­ing them their tickets and it is impossible because primaries have been conducted and cer­tificates have been issued to those who won.

“So, some of these Sena­tors were removed by their Governors, some of them were removed by certain arrangements or political considerations. It is virtually impossible. There is nothing he can promise them for them to believe.

“And I believe that perhaps the only person that can pac­ify them is the Presidential flag bearer of their party. If they don’t hear from him di­rectly, it is not going to pacify the Senators.”

On his part, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC Niger North) expressed confidence that the situation in the Upper Chamber APC will not affect the quality of legislation being made by the lawmakers.

He said: “I am very con­fident about one thing. The same Senators that have worked over the past seven years to provide stability, to break jinx, to work for Nigeri­ans, are still the same Senators. Forget about them changing the vehicles that brought them to the National Assembly.

“So, I’m very optimistic that these same Senators are going to continue to work as we have always done to ensure that the government contin­ues to serve the best interest of Nigerians, because we are all Nigerians and our purpose even when they express their democratic rights by changing vehicles, it is simply because of their commitment to mak­ing Nigeria work better. So, I don’t see any threat as far as I am concerned.”

He also expressed optimism of ample time for the APC to work their differences, adding “And with respect to our party, of course to God be the glory and by the design of the Elec­toral Act, we have ample time for housekeeping by ensuring that there are engagements.”

According to him, “If these engagements continue on a sincere and positive note, and I believe it is going to, I have no doubt in my mind that we shall resolve whatever difficulties that we are seeing right now.”

He noted that the national chairman’s visit “visit is part of the process; and the process has started. I am not in the po­sition to promise anything or to solve anything.”

He added: “So, I can’t sit down here and tell you that be­cause he has come and we have talked – problems over. I told you that it is a process and since we have initiated the process, wish us all.” (Sunday Independent)