In the run-up to the elections of February 2022, about 4000 supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Party of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) defected from their Opposition Parties to join the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
FCT Minister of State Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu welcomed the decampees to the fold of the APC and guaranteed the ruling party members justice and equality whilst urging those who still have to join.
She expressed enthusiasm that the majority are former leaders of the PDP and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) opposition in the Federal Capital, describing the event as a “harvest,” with over 4,000 members. The minister said he was very excited about this event.
In addition, Aliyu challenged them to use their political influence to support the party in 2022 and beyond.
In turn, she took the opportunity to urge both the old members and the new members of the ruling party to work in peace, to respect the law and to emphasize the predominance of the decision of the party.
According to her; “we are here today to receive over 4,000 of our brothers and sisters who have decided on their own to join the ruling APC. They came from various political parties especially the major opposition parties, the PDP and APGA. We appreciate them.
“They have keyed into the agenda of the second term of the incumbent chairman, the second term of credible governance, the second term of competent leadership, the second term of solid management of our common patrimony in Kwali area council”.
Aliyu, who acknowledged that the occasion was not to kick off campaign for the council elections, however, tasked party members to support continuity in governance.
Earlier, the APC Chairman in FCT Abdulmalik Usman, revealed that some of the decampees are founding members of the All Progressives Congress before they jumped ship
His words , “Today we are here to make another history, the history of receiving our brothers, some of whom we started this party together. Our brothers and sisters whom we struggled hard to form this party at that time. So it is a welcome back home for these members sitting here today.
“Honourable minister, you know Kwali very well because Kwali and Gwagwalada are 5 and 6. When we were in opposition, never had PDP tried us in this two area councils. We are here to receive these people back home. They travelled somewhere and they said the atmosphere there is not conducive for them.
“Coming back home, they are back to meet their brothers and sisters in good health and we have nothing against them than to receive them back to their house. We are not here to campaign because we don’t want anybody to indict our party”.
He expressed the confidence that come February 12, 2022, the APC will win the entire six area councils and the 62 wards in the nation’s capital.
Responding on behalf of other decampees, Usman Jiya, Former APGA Aspirant, assured party faithful that their return to APC was to consolidate on the achievements recorded by the incumbent chairman of Kwali area council, assuring that all members of their dedication and team spirit in the forthcoming area councils poll.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of symbolic broom to the leaders of the decampees by the FCT Minister of State and the party chairman. Other decampees include Hon Salihu Kolo, former state PDP Deputy Chairman, Hon Usman Jiya, former APGA Aspirant, Hon Habila Bwaba, former PDP state vice chairman, Hon Maimunat S Adamu amongst others.
