Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party from the camp of Ali Modu Sheriff have started a phased defection to APC.
Ex-PDP Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to deposed former Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff are set to commence a phased defection to All Progressives Congress, APC.
According to Vanguard, the process is to kick-start this weekend with the defection of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Sheriff’s deputy, and the leadership of Delta State PDP faction that was inclined to Sheriff.
Dr. Ojougboh, a former national vice-chairman, South-South of the PDP, subsequently took office as the deputy national chairman of the Sheriff led faction of the party during the recent crisis.
Sources close to the APC and the members of the now delegitimized Sheriff-led PDP faction disclosed yesterday that the Dr. Cairo’s defection would begin a series of defections by members of the faction to the APC.
The source disclosed that those aligned to Sheriff were particularly displeased by the failure of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led leadership to wave the olive branch after the court victory that delegitimised Sheriff as the party’s national chairman.
“They labelled us offenders and can you believe that up till today that neither Makarfi nor any of the NWC members has reached out to us, instead they are debating whether we deserve amnesty or not.
“This is not the way to go and we cannot be rendered irrelevant, so we are coming out to show our strength,” the source a close associate of Sheriff told Vanguard over the telephone.
Another source also confirmed that the APC in Delta State would roll out the carpet to welcome Dr Ojougboh into the APC.
Vanguard learnt yesterday that apart from Dr. Ojougbo that the entire structure of the faction loyal to Sheriff in the state from ward level to members of the state executive council would also be defecting to the APC.
Major APC stakeholders within and outside the state are being invited for the declaration rally to give colour to the event, it was further gathered.
Meanwhile, Dr Ojougbo’s defection it was gathered would be the first as other senior associates of Sheriff in the PDP would periodically also declare for the APC.
“We will leave the party as an empty carcass for them,” the source said.