Why I Defected From APC To PDP – Saraki

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has explained the reason for his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement signed by him of Tuesday, he explained that the decision to defect came after extensive consultations.

He said the decision came after efforts to ensure a harmonious existence in the party had proven to be futile.

According to him, all the principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined by some members.

He said, “This is not a decision that I have made lightly. If anything at all, I have tarried for so long and did all that was humanly possible, even in the face of great provocation, ridicule and flagrant persecution, to give an opportunity for peace, reconciliation and harmonious existence.

“However, it is after an extensive consultation with all the important stakeholders that we have come to this difficult but inevitable decision to pitch our political tent elsewhere; where we could enjoy a greater sense of belonging and where the interests of the greatest number of our Nigerians would be best served.

“While I take full responsibility for this decision, I will like to emphasise that it is a decision that has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist.

“They have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded.

“All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as a basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as an additional pretext for further exclusion,” he said.

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The Senate President further explained that all opportunities to seek redress and correct the anomalies of the party were deliberately blocked.

He noted that though he had tried to manage negative situations in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Assembly, he also experienced a situation whereby “every dissent from the legislature was framed as an affront on the executive or as part of an agenda to undermine the government itself.

“The populist notion of anti-corruption became a ready weapon for silencing any form of dissent and for framing even principled objection as “corruption fighting back,” he added.

Shortly after Saraki announced his defection, the Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed also followed suit.

He announced the defection via his Twitter account, stating reasons similar to that of the Senate President.

“Following consultations and in response to calls by major stakeholders in the state, I have moved to the PDP as APC can no longer serve as a platform for achieving the aspirations and expectations of my people”.

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