From Umar Dankano, Yola

Strong indications emerged yesterday that the Adamawa state governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd.), is set to dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the 2015 general elections. Peoples Daily reliably learnt that in line with the governor’s plan, all members of his cabinet, as well as other aides, loyalists and supporters would soon defect to one of the opposition parties, as a prelude to Governor Nyako’s eventual defection to that party.

Although the stakeholders loyal to the Nyako faction of the PDP in Adamawa were yet to publicly declare their party of destination, Peoples Daily learnt that they may be heading to the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), and by extension, the amalgam opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), if it is fully registered. A reliable source close to some members of the Adamawa state executive council, told our correspondent yesterday that Governor Nyako had already discussed terms of his defection, along with supporters and loyalists, with a top ANPP chieftain and former Kano state governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.

Another source told our correspondent that Governor Nyako, along with other governor colleagues of his who are perceived as anti-Jonathan, had earlier resolved to remain in the PDP until 2014, before giving serious thoughts to their defection plans. However, that in view of recent developments within the ruling PDP, they began to consider early exit from the party.

“But the last straw, in the case of His Excellency, Governor Nyako, was the terrible treatment he and their excellencies, the governors of Jigawa, Kano and Niger states got while on their way to pay a solidarity visit to their persecuted colleague, the Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi on Tuesday”, said the source.
The source said that the attack on the convoy of the visiting northern governors by protesters suspected to be anti-Amaechi in the state further exacerbated Nyako’s resentment of happenings in the ruling party.
It was learnt that the Adamawa state governor felt that the protesters would not have been emboldened to carry out the protest without backing of “the powers that be” from the centre.

Our source said that Nyako, perhaps, chose to send a strong signal even before 2014, by instructing his aides and supporters to defect from the PDP ahead of the agreed date.
When contacted for comments on the development, the Adamawa state Commissioner for Rural Development and Infrastructure, Alhaji Aminu Iyawa, neither confirmed nor denied the speculations that members of Nyako’s cabinet were defecting from the PDP.
The commissioner simply said through an SMS that “you can contact the Information Commissioner, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abba Jimeta”.
But the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Nyako, Alhaji Ahmad Sajoh, told our correspondent on phone that they were yet to defect to any political party, but were considering “any relevant option”, including remaining in the PDP.
“Actually we’ve not moved from the PDP to any other party, but stakeholders are consulting. And we’re consulting widely”, he said.
Sajoh explained that they were deeply disturbed by the recent descent in the PDP towards dictatorship.
“Before the PDP Constitution was amended, even if a member is suspended, he has the right to appeal his suspension, to fair hearing, and to enjoy certain privileges of being a member of the party.
“But under the amended Constitution (of the PDP), a member can be suspended for say one month by either the National Working Committee (NWC) of the State Working Committee (SWC), and such a person automatically loses his right to contest election.
“We believe that under the current leadership of the party, we (in Nyako’s faction in Adamawa) won’t ever get justice. And with the special convention approaching, ordinarily, the old delegates’ list is supposed to be used during the convention. But the present leadership is likely to manipulate and change the process”, he said.
He added that: “We have elected our delegates at the just concluded Nassarwo Binyeri House of Asssembly bye-election, but to our greatest dismay, the PDP national chairman and his cohorts upturned it. So we decided on our own to maintain our formidable political structure to allow it go for posterity to judge us”.
The spokesman stressed that, in the light of the foreseeable injustice, Nyako and his loyalists decided to consult with their stakeholders at various levels, including the grassroots.
“So, as it is, all options are open; including remaining in the PDP. At the moment, we’ve not defected to any party, but we’re still consulting.
“However, we won’t just sit idle until we’re taken unawares”, Sajoh affirmed.
He confirmed that stakeholders loyal to his boss met with Nyako’s first son, Abudulaziz, commonly called Sarkin Matasa, yesterday on the need to be proactive about the crisis rocking the PDP at the state level.
The press affairs director confirmed that at the meeting of Nyako’s loyalists, which was chaired by one of the most senior stakeholders in the state, there were various political appointees including commissioners, special advisers, special assistants, local government chairmen, ward executives, and that they all agreed unanimously that wider consultations should commence with a view to addressing the ongoing factionalisation in the PDP in the state.
Abdulaziz is rumoured to be angling to succeed his father as the state governor in 2015, and subtle campaigns have begun among the stakeholders in the state for the realization of this ambition.
Sajoh, while justifying the involvement of Nyako’s son in the politics of the state said when the state of emergency was imposed on Adamawa state, Abdulaziz played a key role in making sure that the entire populace, especially the youths, were sensitized to be law-abiding.
Governor Nyako and Bamanga Tukur have been at each other throats over who controls the political levers of the state ahead of the 2015 general elections. Both have refused to let go because they are interested in who becomes the next governor of the state.
While Nyako is rumoured to be rooting for his son, Abdulaziz, Tukur is equally said to be working relentlessly to clear the coast for his own son, Awwal, a former member of the House of Representatives, to become the governor of the state by 2015.
In view of these schemes and manoueverings, the PDP in the state has been factionalised with Nyako’s Exco being chaired by Alhaji Kaugama Mijinjiwa and Tukur’s led by Chief Joel Madaki.

http://peoplesdailyng.com/nyako-sets-to-dump-pdp/

Who cares

This will be a good news to Abubakar Atiku and Boni Haruna who recently returned back to the PDP fold ...

Is Nyako still in PDP?