Buhari Suffers Setback As Atiku's Camp Joins Jonathan

 
Barely eleven days before Nigerians head to the polls, a total of 120 groups loyal to former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar have decamped to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

The decampees were received by Uche Secondius, deputy national chairman of PDP, The Cable reports.

A reception to welcome them to the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan was held for them at at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Report of their planned defection had surfaced on Monday.

According to Nigerian Tribune report, Mr Peter Ogar, the national coordinator of Renaissance for Socio-political Transformation of Nigeria, who spoke on behalf of the group during a press conference at the weekend, said the groups were convinced that there was no viable alternative to President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Having understood the event of December 10, 2014, wherein our able leader, the Turakin Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was through a gang up denied us and indeed Nigerians the chance to have a true option in the forthcoming presidential election.

“Accordingly, we had to take time to analyse the inner workings of the current administration under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and came to the conclusion that outside the Turaki, there is no better candidate within any opposition political party, hence the need for a rethink and strategic political repositioning for the sake of destiny of our great country, Nigeria.

“It is on this premise that we are today announcing our plans to declare in a grand style, the shift in allegiance and support from the old order to a more purposeful and result oriented leadership as a better alternative in the next civilian transition hence our wholehearted declaration of support for President Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential election in the country as we are deeply convinced that he has the expertise, patriotism and national zeal to move the country to the next level,” Ogar said.

Earlier, report had surfaced that Jonathan held a secret meeting with Atiku at his home in Yola, Adamawa state capital, in a bid to woo him and his supporters.

Rumours emerged last week that Atiku, who had previously dumped the PDP for the APC, was under pressure to return to the ruling party. He denied the rumour and reinstated his commitment to the opposition party.

Atiku has not been participating actively in the APC campaigns rallies. He has however continued to pledge his loyalty to the party.

The PDM, a political group formed by Atiku was said to have endorsed President Jonathan, the PDP presidential candidate. But in a swift reaction, the PDM debunked the report, saying they had already endorsed the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen Muhammadu Buhari.