National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, hinted that some political parties will soon merge with the governing party.
The former Kano State governor was reacting to the visit by the former governor of Rivers State and minister of the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike, and some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains from Rivers State to his residence on Tuesday.
Addressing journalists alongside immediate past Plateau State governor and minister, Simon Lalong, at his office in Abuja, Ganduje notes that Wike’s visit was the beginning of better things to happen to the party’s membership drive under his leadership.
This, he said, is in line with his inaugural acceptance speech on August 3rd of ensuring an increase in the party’s membership.
On whether Wike’s visit is a sign of his defection to the governing party, Ganudje said the issue of former Rivers governor’s defection did not come up during the visit to his residence.
“We did not discuss the issue of his coming to APC or not coming to APC,” adding that “that issue will arise later,” he noted.
Ganduje observed however that the defection of the likes of Wike into the APC would be an added advantage to the party’s electoral fortune of APC in 2027.
He said, “It will certainly improve the chances of this our party, especially in 2027 and not only that we are coming out with a new blueprint to increase the followership of the party and this we include all strata of officials; those who are in APC and those who are in other political parties. I assure you very soon some of the political parties will even merge with the APC. We are doing that underground.
On what actually transpired at the meeting with the minister-designate, the APC chairman said, “You know Wiki is minister. So, he came, we discussed because I was looking for him to congratulate him for that and he came to congratulate me.
“We discussed that when he becomes minister fully, he will work very hard to move the ministry he is given forward and he is ready to cooperate.”
Earlier, minister of labour and employment, Simon Lalong and director-general of the defunct APC presidential campaign council, Lalong, who came on a courtesy visit to the national chairman, expressed optimism in Ganduje’s ability to take the party to greater heights.
Lalong said, “Ganduje was governor. As a matter of fact, when we look at his antecedents, we always say he is the longest experienced politician that we have within us. Because he was very long in civil service. He became permanent secretary, commissioner, longest-serving deputy governor and became governor.
“So with this kind of experience, what else do you need in party matters? We have confidence in him as he is now here and it is not an issue of one man. Anytime he has the opportunity he does a lot of consultations and we are always available.
“His colleagues who were governors with him are always available for this kind of work. That is why we are rallying around to give him every help so that the party can also succeed.”
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