Plateau deputy governor, Gen. Useni, Dariye, others dump PDP for APC
It was gathered that Dariye, Useni, Tapgun and Cheto have been in secret meetings with top politicians across the 17 local government areas of the state to canvass votes for the APC candidates for the two elections Plateau State on Tuesday witnessed mass defection of prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Among those who defected were a former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye; Ambassador Fedelis Tapgun; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, General Jeremiah Timbut Useni: Senator Victor Lar; and the state’s Deputy Governor, Ambassador Ignatius Longjan. Also, a former Minister and former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Dame Pauline Tallen; Engineer Jimmy Cheto; and Chief Jethro Akun have concluded plans to move to the APC ahead of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

It was gathered that Dariye, Useni, Tapgun and Cheto have been in secret meetings with top politicians across the 17 local government areas of the state to canvass votes for the APC candidates for the two elections. Meanwhile, a group of supporters of the APC on the platform of Advocacy Campaign, in a press statement signed by Comrade Saddiq Agamah Sumbelep, said Dariye’s group has resolved to defect formally to the party on April 9, 2015.

Sumbelep disclosed that the defection to the APC is to bring government closer to the people at the grassroots. Sumbelep said the launching of the “Vote All Progressives Congress candidates across Plateau State Advocacy Campaign” is aimed at mobilizing voters in Plateau State to vote for the governorship and state Assembly candidates of the APC on April 11, 2015.

He added that Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will be the chief launcher of the VAPCAPSA campaign. The chairman of the event will be former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, a former speaker House of Representatives, as the guest speaker.

Sumbelep decried the high level of unemployment, hooliganism, hunger, abduction, rape, religious intolerance, stealing and smuggling going in the country.

He congratulated President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory. He equally called on the citizens to replicate same in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

Culled from:http://theeagleonline.com.ng/plateau-deputy-governor-gen-useni-dariye-others-dump-pdp-for-apc/

Nigeria, gradually (or speedily?) turning into a one party state. This is not going to be healthy for our democracy and country in the long run.
Though I'm trusting the PDP will find its feet again.

Obviously if the tables turn around they'll decamp again

I had always maintained that PDP under Jonathan is bound only by the access to the Commonwealth

That if in any case Jonathan gets defeated,nobody might even remember he once Presided over this country owing to the fact that he lacks any serious leadership acumen and people dont respect him except for the fact that he is the President

Since he lost his re-election,he has refused to rally the troops and give hope to the remaining contestants

PDP is fast fading into irrelevance

PDP is going to an extinction or rather put a regional party taking over from APGA.

I said it before. The sustaining factor for PDP is patronage. PDP does not have what it takes to be a vibrant opposition. The oxygen has been taken away on Saturday.

This is where buhari's leadership skills wud be put to test because there are too many criminals now decamping to APC.
I know he won't fail Nigerians and would definitely disappoint many politicians who are joining to essentially get some form of protection.

Na wa! Failure is indeed an orphan

This one everybody is decamping to APC, we need a strong opposition o.

fyneguy:
I said it before. The sustaining factor for PDP is patronage. PDP does not have what it takes to be a vibrant opposition. The oxygen has been taken away on Saturday.

Very true..the bold.

...and what is happening now is just my only reservation about APC winning that election...the soul of opposition politics is SW..but now that mainstream SW has moved to the center...Opposition politics will die in Nigeria as PDP cannot play such role.

OAM4J:
Na wa! Failure is indeed an orphan

This one everybody is decamping to APC, we need a strong opposition o.

Unfortunately the people that are well grounded in opposition politics have just moved to the center.

ilugunboy:


Unfortunately the people that are well grounded in opposition politics have just moved to the center.

The main motivation for them is access to national cake, if power gives them that access, then fine. The cake is too sweet for them to bare the pain of struggling for it from scratch. The change must continue at the governorship polls.

na only plateau? come and see mass defection of even sitting commissioners in niger state.

ilugunboy:


Unfortunately the people that are well grounded in opposition politics have just moved to the center.

galadima77:
na only plateau? come and see mass defection of even sitting commissioners in niger state.

It is not good for our democracy, we need a strong opposition party to put a ruling party on its toes. Otherwise we the people will be the loser for it. Do I have now to be wishing for a problem in APC so that some can leave to strengthen PDP?

LAGOS- BELONGS TO THE YOURBA'

OAM4J:




It is not good for our democracy, we need a strong opposition party to put a ruling party on its toes. Otherwise we the people will be the loser for it. Do I have now to be wishing for a problem in APC so that some can leave to strengthen PDP?

Unfortunately I don't think PDP will be able to rise up again if the voting pattern of the Presidential election also reflects in the governorship election.

We may just pray for a fresh party to come along as opposition....

This is not good for our democracy. We need a vibrant and dogged opposition for us to continue to enjoy good governance.

We all witnessed the miracle GEJ did within 6weeks based on strong opposition.

It clearly shows politicians are only interested in their pockets and self interests.

ilugunboy:


Unfortunately I don't think PDP will be able to rise up again if the voting pattern of the Presidential election also reflects in the governorship election.

We may just pray for a fresh party to come along as opposition....

PDP can not. A new formidable party will emerge out of this seemingly over crowded APC with time.

The only hope for PDP is for them to rejuvenate the party with young and visionary leaders that can appeal to the youths.

ilugunboy:


Unfortunately I don't think PDP will be able to rise up again if the voting pattern of the Presidential election also reflects in the governorship election.

We may just pray for a fresh party to come along as opposition....

Well, lets see how things unfold. With all these mass defection everywhere, looks like APC might be controlling more than 21 states it won in d last presidential election.

Only the SE would be left in PDP

I wish Rochas lose the election so the whole SE would be fully opposition

AgentMS:


PDP can not. A new formidable party will emerge out of this seemingly over crowded APC with time.

The only hope for PDP is for them to rejuvenate the party with young and visionary leaders that can appeal to the youths.

If these young visionary leaders are presently unknown, they had better start speaking out from now so people can access them before the next general election. 4 years is just to short for some unknown and untested people to be a threat to a sitting government the way APC was to PDP.

OAM4J:


It is not good for our democracy, we need a strong opposition party to put a ruling party on its toes. Otherwise we the people will be the loser for it. Do I have now to be wishing for a problem in APC so that some can leave to strengthen PDP?

honestly, not everyone can withstand d hardship that accompanies being in d opposition especially in a democracy like ours where winners take all.

OAM4J:


If these young visionary leaders are presently unknown, they had better start speaking out from now so people can access them before the next general election. 4 years is just to short for some unknown and untested people to be a threat to a sitting government the way APC was to PDP.

to be candid, I don't know any for now.

They must be a set of people that are passionate and committed to good governance and not chop-I-chop politics.

Sooroptimist1:
I had always maintained that PDP under Jonathan is bound only by the access to the Commonwealth

That if in any case Jonathan gets defeated,nobody might even remember he once Presided over this country owing to the fact that he lacks any serious leadership acumen and people dont respect him except for the fact that he is the President

Since he lost his re-election,he has refused to rally the troops and give hope to the remaining contestants

PDP is fast fading into irrelevance

My thoughts exactly. You are so on point amigo.

So PDP lost an election and they're dead n buried? Great. Let Buhari mess up and you see for your self what it means to be on the hot seat. Am no pdp member but I just have to say this. There are people out there itching to play the opposition role even better than APC did. Just pray GMB delivers his promise.

This is why I am cautiously optimistic and wary of this much touted "change"
The same members of the government/party that was just booted out are rejoining the incoming government, and are being welcomed with open arms.
Coupled with the fact that many stalwarts of the incoming government were once spearheads of the ousted government.

Am l to believe that these traitors, both old and new, have imbibed a new ideology different than the ones they held in the ousted dispensation/party

ls anyone really convinced that these selfish, greedy, opportunistic charlatans have turned a new leaf ??

Have they really denounced greed and corruption by joining the APC
or is it business as usual under a new party??

l am no fool, if you bathe a pig, clothe it in fine lining, scent it with cologne and put a diamond ring on its snout, it will still go back to the gutters...a pig will always be a pig

A cautionary tale.

Fairgodwin:
Nigeria, gradually (or speedily?) turning into a one party state. This is not going to be healthy for our democracy and country in the long run.
Though I'm trusting the PDP will find its feet again.

If no one wants to play the opposition how will our country get better... I wish we can go into 2 party state

Chigold101:
If no one wants to play the opposition how will our country get better... I wish we can go into 2 party state

You seem to get the point.

caant talk :-Xcaant talk

ilugunboy:


Very true..the bold.

...and what is happening now is just my only reservation about APC winning that election...the soul of opposition politics is SW..but now that mainstream SW has moved to the center...Opposition politics will die in Nigeria as PDP cannot play such role.

You got it spot on

Most politicians are fair weather friends,who would gladly migrate to the next house in the event of any change in your situation

That is why Tinubu's place in the annals of history is well assured owing to his steadfastness,ruggedness and solidness to play opposition to its logical conclusion since 2003 when he was the last man standing

He never decamped to PDP out of fear but he rallied the dispersed troops to launch a counter attack against PDP until its now defeated

Opposion politicking is not for the faint-hearted!

I'm beginning to lose confidence in APC. I guess we have to look for an opposition party that can put the incoming govt on its toes.

It has to b another different party and NOT PDP because d party is a brand for corruption.

On my way out of APC.lemme just give it a year and see.

eph12:
Obviously if the tables turn around they'll decamp again

Sure banker!!!