The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, said that governors who defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) acted out of selfish interest rather than concern for their people and would soon regret their actions.
Speaking to The PUNCH, Ememobong said the defectors’ “regret has only just begun.”
“We have said it before that their defection is not in the interest of Nigerians or even the people they govern in their respective states. The move was purely driven by selfish motives,” he said. Ememobong said the PDP was not surprised by the APC’s refusal to grant automatic tickets, describing the ruling party as one that does not genuinely value its members.
Among the PDP governors who have defected to the APC are Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, and most recently, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. The APC leadership in Kano State has also indicated that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection is imminent.
Beyond the governors, several members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, former governors, ex-ministers and other party leaders have also left the PDP for the ruling party.
We also know that the APC is not a party that truly values its members, so this outcome was expected. We saw it coming, and this is only the beginning of their regret,” he stated.
“The APC will continue to treat them as outsiders, and that is simply the reality. Over time, they will realise that their influence within the party is limited and their expectations of preferential treatment will not be met.”
He added that the defectors’ constituents might eventually begin to question their decisions.
