Ibeto’s Defection to PDP will not Affect our Victory in 2019, Says APC

The Niger State Government has said that the defection of Nigeria’s former Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto, to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not negatively affect the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 governorship and other elections in the state.

Ibeto quit the APC last Tuesday and joined the PDP at his Ibelu ward in the Magama Local Government Area of the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Danjuma Salau, said in Minna on Friday that the government and the APC were not jittery because of the defection of the former envoy.

“Ibeto’s defection will not affect the APC chances, it will not have negative impact on our victory in 2019,” he said

Salau recalled that not long ago, over 2,000 top members of the PDP including its state deputy chairman, Alhaji Aminu Yussuf, defected to the APC, adding that “they have been very active in the APC and will not return to the PDP”.

The commissioner also said the performance of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello will also ensure the electorate vote for him “massively in the governorship election”.

He said the APC would be going into the 2019 general election as one family following the endorsement of the governor for a second term by majority of stakeholders.

“The endorsement of the governor by majority of stakeholders will lead to our victory because it has reduced skirmishes usually associated with party primaries, 90% of the family agreed that he should run for second term,” he said.

Salau asked the state chapter of the party not to reduce its tempo of mass mobilisation of members to ensure everyone in the state becomes “a member of our party”.

The APC, Salau said, is the only political party that will bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians adding that “the present challenges are only temporary”.