2019: Ekweremadu to dump PDP for APC

Barring any last minute change, Deputy Senate President Ike
Ekweremadu will dump Nigeria’s major opposition party, the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP), for the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC)., Daily Sun report

Our reporter gathered that Ekweremadu has been involved in
high-level negotiations with the top echelon of the APC, “because
he was aggrieved about the way he has been treated since Senate
President Dr Bukola Saraki defected to the PDP.

“What is, however, unclear is the position the APC will give him
upon defection.

A source said Ekweremadu’s defection “is just in a matter of
days.”

This will be another major defection after Saraki and former
minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, defected from the APC and PDP,
respectively.

It was also gathered that “Ekweremadu was not happy with the way
he was used and dumped by the PDP.”

A chieftain of the APC from the South East had earlier said:
“Look at the way they treated Ekweremadu. When all of them left,
Ekweremadu remained to fight for the survival of this party. How
many of them would have resisted the temptation not to defect in
the face of the intimidation, harassment, prosecution and
persecution meted out on him.

“As a person, he had nothing to lose if he had defected then. In
fact, he had everything to gain. He probably would have been the
senate president because he was offered the slot. Then, when you
people now return, you feel that people who had helped this party
to survive, did not matter, again, simply because you got a
presidential ticket. Also, even Saraki knows that if the DSP had
not been loyal, they would have gotten at him (Saraki) long
ago.

“All the trials Ekweremadu was put through were all because of
Saraki. But, when it was the turn of Saraki to be there for him, he
failed him and as we speak, how many days is this after the
primary. Atiku is yet to call DSP. You don’t treat a man who has
been taking bullets on you people’s behalf like that. Well, I wish
them and PDP well, but, they should know that action begets
reaction and they will pay the price for this mistreatment of
people, who laboured for the party during the toughest time. And,
if Ekweremadu leaves, we will hold these people responsible,” he
stated.