The gale of defections sweeping through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is about to hit its Board of Trustees as Senator Effiong Bob finalises plans for his own switch to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
More members of the PDP BoT are said to be preparing to jump ship in the coming weeks and months, some with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who has given indication of achieving his presidential ambition on a platform other than PDP’s if the need arises.
Bob, a grassroots politician and ally of Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, represented Akwa Ibom North Central in the Red Chamber between 2007 and 2011.
Sources close to Bob told The Nation that he was fed up with the uncertainties over the fate of PDP and the risky implications of its unresolved tussle over the position of National Secretary.
“Senator Bob, a two-term senator from Akwa Ibom State, who was among those who spearheaded our governor’s 2023 election campaign, has concluded plans to defect to the APC.
“An outstanding political leader, he is set to join the ruling APC with his supporters and associates, and he is leaving after 28 years of fidelity to the party,” the source said.
Bob, who chaired the Senate Committee on Finance, will be the first high-profile member of the PDP BoT to leave the party.
Associates of Senator Bob, who confirmed his defection moves, said members of the party in the state had decided to take their political destiny in their hands given the current state of the PDP at the national level and in view of huge, self-inflicted threats that may destroy PDP’s chances in the 2027 general elections and likelihood that a wrong signatory other than the one recognised by INEC may lead to wholesale cancellation of PDP nominations.
One of them told our correspondent that they do not want to risk the Zamfara State experience of the APC in 2023 where the entire party candidates were disqualified after the elections because of an irregular endorsement that resulted from the tussle within the political party structure.
He explained that given the tussle at the PDP national secretariat it is difficult to know who is the chairman and secretary of the party with several ongoing court cases and conflicting court decisions.
“So who will conduct the primaries and who will sign INEC endorsement forms for candidates? It is risky because you’ll end up in court and get disqualified not because you are not qualified but because the person who signed the form is not the one to do so.
“There are more fundamental issues out there and we cannot pretend as if nothing is happening but that will be at our own risk.
“We are not abandoning the party, we are leaving because the leadership is showing no sign that the current challenges are going to be resolved any time soon,” he stated.
Sources said Bob’s impeding defection would likely set the tone for more in the state and a possible replica of last week’s mass defection in Delta State.
Governor Eno recently said he might find another plane to fly him to his destination in 2027 if he finds that the one he planned to fly is not ready for take-off.
A source said: “The Governor himself is close to joining the APC; he’s only awaiting the final decision of his predecessor who has been foot dragging.
“From his public utterances in the last three months, it should be obvious to any discerning mind where he stands.
“It’s just a matter of days, and that is why his foot soldiers and battalion commanders have started moving.”
Governor Eno has been having series of meetings on the subject recently with the party’s stakeholders and his advisers.
He has been advised to take his political future in his own hands as the PDP does not offer any future for any serious politician.
“He would have left since, but he wants to carry his predecessor along. But the man has been foot dragging.
“It is because of him that Governor Eno is still holding on; but it is becoming obvious that he cannot continue to hold on for too long,” one of our sources said.
The Governor has also expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and his reelection in 2027.
Besides, he has thrown his weight behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio ahead of 2027.
In a reaction, PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader Comrade Timothy Osadolor, who is also a member of PDP’s National Working Committee, said the party is aware of some highly-placed party leaders who have benefitted tremendously over the years but still get involved in ongoing defection plots.
Osadolor said the PDP would eagerly rebuild itself and its fortunes if such people can show their faces and leave in good time.
“Any other BoT member, governor, senator or others in national or state leadership positions who want to defect should please do it immediately so that we can know those who remain loyal and work out how to rebuild the party,” he said.
“They should do it timeously so that we can know the true members of the PDP fold. As sad and as unfortunate as it may be, it is better that they take their exit instead of remaining as the worms working inside the tree to kill it.
“So let them come out and go. But if it is transport fare that they don’t have, let them come to Wadata Plaza so that we can assist them.
“Once they go, we can know the committed people that we have left and properly plan how to rebuild the party.
“Let us not forget that political mobilization or representation is not all about BoT members or governors, it is about the people and in the last general election, APC had 20 states under Buhari, along with the G-5 governors, totaling 25 states. They won only in twelve states!
“Some incumbent governors lost the elections woefully and the elections show us all that what is more important to the Nigerian people are the candidates and not governors, BoT members or any rich man.
“Therefore, those defecting are welcome to do so, but they should remember that the people will comment on their actions and history will judge whether their actions today are credible or showing integrity.”
(The Nation)
