Ruling All Progressives Congress, on Sunday, appealed to prominent politicians who have defected from the party to return to its fold.
The APC specifically mentioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Gov Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who left APC for the People’s Democratic Party and other parties, to retrace their steps.
The APC stated this following the return of Senator Barnabas Gemade and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and others to the ruling party after a stint in the PDP, ahead of the 2023 polls.
Gemade, a former national chairman of the PDP, was said to have on Saturday abandoned the Social Democratic Party, the platform on which he contested the Benue North East Senatorial District election in 2019, to return to the APC, which he left in the run-up to the election.
He was reported to have said his return to APC would shock the PDP.
But Benue PDP in a statement on Sunday said Gemade lacked any political value.
“Ordinarily, the PDP should not concern itself with an exercise, which is a mere charade by well-known perennial political nomads. However, considering Senator Gemade’s quoted statement at the decamping that his move to APC has sent jitters down the spines of PDP and other political parties in the state, it is noteworthy to state a few facts salient and relevant to the situation,” said Benue PDP Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom.
But the APC has said it would welcome members wishing to return to its fold.
APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, had said, “We assure all true progressives who left the party over whatever grievance to return and join ongoing efforts to reposition the APC and further achieve our pro-people plans for the country,”
“It is heart-warming that party faithful led by President Muhammadu Buhari, as leader of the APC, have recognised the reconciliation efforts of the Governor Buni-led APC Careteker and continue to support the Committee.“We call on our supporters, members and leaders to continue their support for the caretaker committee by coming forward with any issues, grievances, disputations, differences for amicable resolution.”