Massive Defection To Hit APC as S’West Leaders Look to Tinubu

Massive Defection To Hit APC as S’West Leaders Look to Tinubu

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is seemingly on the verge of a major upheaval with reports that South-West leaders loyal to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are awaiting his directive before ditching the party.

This follows a string of high-profile meetings of politicians across party lines in the region as new alliances are made towards the emergence of a new political platform to contest the 2019 general elections.

In an interview with Punch, Senator Adesoji Akanbi, (APC, Oyo South) said a new political realignment is about to see the light of day as members of the ruling party grow disenchanted with the turn of events.

“You know that ambition can drive people and a lot of people, when it comes to amalgamation like that of the APC, some people may feel cheated and may not be happy with the outcome of the whole thing. It is normal,” he said.

“There is no way you can form a new party in a room. Nigerians should not be too eager to see the outcome of such (secret and closed-door) meetings because they are still coming out to the public to canvass for support. Let us all wait and see.”

Making a veiled reference to Tinubu, he asked Nigerians to contain their curiosities as all will be made known in due time.

“Personally, someone like me is a committed member of the APC and I still have my leader.

“Politics is about the grass roots. You have to know what your people want before you can decide on what to do. I am from the South-West and we have a way of doing our thing. We still have a leader.

“Personally, I am an advocate of regional integration. When I say regional, I am particular about the South-West, where I come from.”

Akanbi’s submission is consistent with the fears earlier expressed by the recently suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Timi Frank, who hinted that an alternative political platform was in the offing.

“I say this without fear of contradiction; major political re-alignments are going on in this country. I don’t want a scenario whereby my party, the APC, will lose out,” he said.

“I don’t want us to lose our members to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party or any other political party for that matter.”

It will be interesting to see how the APC rises above these challenges and prove the critics wrong that it isn’t merely a marriage of strange bedfellows.