Group Urges Tinubu, Ganduje to Stop Taraba N’Assembly Members from  Defecting to PDP

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A group of concerned party members under the umbrella of Progressive Frontliners has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, to halt the moves by two Taraba state lawmakers in the National Assembly to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The group noted that there was cause for strong suspicion that APC is about to lose two Taraba state National Assembly seats to PDP within the next few weeks.

The President of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Adams, and the Secretary,  John Matthias, in a statement jointly signed yesterday, expressed worry by allegations that both Senator  David Jimkuta and Hon. Mark Useni of the House Representatives were set to fulfi–ll a rumoured pre-election agreement to defect to the PDP and support Governor Agbu Kefas, who garnered support for them during the pre-election court cases.

It noted: “We have been inundated with reports alleging unholy alliances between the PDP state government Taraba state and these two National Assembly members who rode into power on the back of APC goodwill, the PDP state governor is believed to be undermining APC towards achieving long-term political goals.

“Specifically, we urge both President Bola Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to find out why and how the party lost both the presidential and governorship election votes in their Constituencies.

“We feel very worried by allegations that both Senator  David Jimkuta and Honorable Mark  Useni of the House Representatives are set to fulfill a rumoured pre-election agreement to defect to the PDP and support Governor Agbu Kefas who garnered support for them during the pre-election court cases.”

The group said both Kuta and Useni who belong to different factions of the APC in the State during the 2023 elections were said to have held several meetings with the governor over his second term ambition.

It added: “There are widespread reports of discreet support for PDP and Governor Kefas which cost the APC in Taraba State very dearly during the 2033 elections and things must therefore not be left to chance now.

“During the 2023 election, both legislators supported the PDP Governor who won the governorship elections in their respective wards of Bete and Fete; It is no longer a secret that Governor Kefas is already indulging in fantasies about a 2027 re-election as well as a 2031 Senate seat at the expense of APC.

“Although both legislators won the National Assembly elections in their wards, the APC Governorship and Presidential candidates lost to the PDP and Labour Party there, Takum, their local government was one of the only two local governments that the PDP won.”

The group stressed that it has reasons to believe that Useni, who is holding an APC seat is currently in New York with the Governor.

The group said it was not going to keep it eyes open and watch a party like PDP to swallow APC with its progressive and populist cause in Taraba state.