…Seeks soft landing from Atiku
…Presidential Campaign Council vows to deal With members for anti-party activity
By our correspondent
As several local and international pre-election polls continue in favour of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, there are indications that some APC governors, ministers and appointees are in secret talks with the opposition party.
It was gathered that the affected APC governors, especially the outgoing ones, are not having robust relationship with the national leadership of the APC and are not comfortable with the possibility of President Buhari being reelected on February 16.
According to our source, the governors are nursing the fears that President Buhari is only accommodating them just to get their support for his reelection bid and may use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to settle scores with them once he is reelected.
However, it was gathered that most of the APC ministers that are either having direct secret talks with Atiku or sending emissaries to him are those that were formerly members of the PDP or benefited electorally during the PDP administration when they contested for elective offices.
The back-door deals are said to have been wrapped up with some APC chaiftains.
Among those reported to be reaching out to the PDP presidential candidate is a high ranking member of the party from Edo state; a former governor from an oil-rich state in Niger Delta and some high profile Ministers.
These APC stalwarts are said to be ready to “do a deal” with Atiku and give him all support he needs during the February 16 presidential poll.
Also, a member of late Yar’Adua’s political family, the Peoples Democratic Movement, who is a leading figure in APC from the South West is also said to have send emissaries to Atiku following the revival of PDM and the group’s adoption of Atiku as its presidential candidate.
Several members of PDM are in different political parties but they resolved at their meeting in Abuja last Friday to set aside their political party affiliations and ensure one of their own emerges president this year.
It was gathered that the South West APC chieftain sent message to Atiku that he is on same page with other members of late Yar’Adua political family despite the key role assigned to him in Buhari’s campaign train.
Though these APC governors still pretend to be in support of Buhari’s reelection bid in public, they are also said to be have gone far in their negotiations with the PDP to ensure their interests are protected if Buhari does not stay in Aso Rock presidential villa beyond May 29.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council appears to have gotten wind of the secret deals between chieftains of APC and the opposition PDP and has vowed to deal with them for anti-party activity.
The secret deal between PDP and APC stalwarts at the national level is said to have be going on in Ondo state where APC members are secretly working for the Action Alliance.
A member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Strategic and Communications, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, said on Tuesday in Akure that the Council is aware of the anti-party activities.
He said that the council was aware of the clandestine anti-party activities of some party chieftains and senior government officials and appointees, working against the interest of the party in the forthcoming general elections in the state.
Adesanya warned party executives, members and political appointees who were allegedly using their positions and portfolios to canvass for votes for the candidates of Action Alliance (AA) to desist from the act.
“APC remains the ship that brought them to Power through its platform. This unholy alliance is sacrilegious and therefore not acceptable in the state.
“The council, on behalf of the President and the Vice-President, appreciates the commitment and loyalty of our party men and women, all Nigerians, for their supports and steadfastness in keeping fate with this government,” he said in a statement.
Adesanya implored party members and supporters, in all the 3009 polling units, 203 Wards across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, to work assiduously and vote for all APC candidates on Saturday, Feb. 16.
“The campaign council advises all the loyal party members and chieftains to be vigilant in their various polling units and wards, keep records of anybody, no matter highly placed, who perpetrates and indulges in anti-party activity in the state,” he said.
