The Nigerian political space has been experiencing series of commotions and tumultuous events as rumors about party defections have been filtering the air waves.
The long awaited rumor advanced on July 4 when a faction of the All Progressives Congress pulled out to form what is now called the Reformed All Progressives Peoples’ Congress (R-APC).
The new faction consists of the n-PDP and a part of the APC.
Some days after it’s formation, the R-APC signed a pact with other 37 political parties to defeat President Buhari’s APC in the forthcoming general elections in 2019.
Some senators in a bid to add to this raging crisis decided to massively decamp from the party.
Below is a list of APC senators who will likely decamp
Bukola Saraki
Even in the face of this crisis, Senator Bukola Saraki has not revealed his plans of either decamping or remaining in the party even though he is being expected to decamp.
Saraki’s cold war with the presidency emanated from the period he was elected as the senate president. He faced allegations of financial recklessness and false declaration of assets. Although he has been found innocent of these charges, it is widely believed that his travails are because of his strong resistance to pressure from the presidency.
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Dino Melaye
The senator who represents Kogi West is not denying his intention to defect from APC. Senator Melaye displayed some body language that suggests a possible decamping-this he did by sitting in the same wing with the PDP and even releasing a short video where he expressed how he missed his original home, the PDP.
His loggerheads with the governor of Kogi state is another strong pointer why he made up his mind on leaving the party.
Shehu Sani
Senator Shehu Sani has ab initio declared his intention to leave the party soon. His several posts on social media would attest to this fact.
The senator who represents Kaduna Central is seriously kicking to leave mainly because of his dispute with the Kaduna state governor, El Rufai.
Suleiman Hunkuyi
Similar to Sheu Sani’s situation, Suleiman may likely leave the party because of his feud with governor El Rufai.
Issues between the two politicians is very dicey but fact still remains that there is no mutual corporation between them.
Kabir Marafa
Power tussle in Zamfara state has orchestrated a major disagreement between the executive governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari and the senator for Zamfara Central Constituency, Kabir Marafa.
The political upheaval reached it’s height in November 2017 when the senator claimed that the governor is not an indigene of Zamfara state. This allegation stimulated the refusal of the senate to confirm the nomination of Ahmad Bello Mahmud as REC nominee for the state due to a written petition by Yari to INEC.
Marafa also accused the governor and his deputy of being accomplice to the bandits who have besieged the state. In response to all these, the governor issued a threat to Mr. Marafa’s 2019 election bid.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
There has been a clear signal that Musa Kwankwaso would soon defect to the Peoples Democratic Party soonest.
The former governor of Kano state had earlier bragged how he will easily defeat Muhammadu Buhari if given the mandate by the PDP.
Danjuma Goje
The Gombe senator has been widely accused of terrifically controlling the affairs of APC in Gombe state.
In a bid to bring a solution to this, the national leadership of the party decided to Gombe executives and installed a caretaker committee but the move did not restore peace between the committee and the state chairman and it often saw the big wigs physically attacking themselves.
Isa Misau
Isa Misau has consistently registered his irk feelings against the presidency. It will be recalled that earlier in January, he accused President Buhari of being incompetent and also surrounding himself with selfish, incompetent people.
He also berated Buhari’s war against corruption, maintaining that there is no sincerity in the fight; mentioning the case of Babachir Lawal who despite his glaring financial theft, was allowed to walk freely. With his unending confrontations, the Bauchi senator seems to be leaving the party.
Other senators include:
Ibrahim Danbaba
Barnabas Gemade
Ibrahim Gobir
Suleiman Nazif
John Enoh
David Umaru
Ibrahim Rufai
culled from PremiumTimes