BREAKING NEWS: APC, PDP G-7 Governors Merge

The seven aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have announced their decision to merge with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the afternoon of November 26, 2013, Tuesday.

The meeting commenced at 9.30 a.m. at Kano Governor’s Lodge. It was the continuation of the meeting which ended last midnight, at about 12.30 a.m.

The governors declared their decision was aimed at rescuing the country.

Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, the former Acting National Chairman of the PDP, announced the decision after the meeting, at about 11.46 a.m., Tuesday.

The governors who attended the meeting were that of Rivers (Rotimi Amaechi), Kano (Rabiu Kwankwanso), Adamawa (Murtala Nyako), Kwara (Badulfatah Ahmed) and Niger (Dr. Babangida Aliyu).

The governors of Jigawa and Sokoto states Sule Lamido and Aliyu Wamakko, respectively, were absent.

Alhaji Abubakar Baraje futher noted that the governors were part of the decision.

The APC leaders, including the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), were in attendance. 

The new merger effectively changes the political landscape of Nigeria.

The ruling PDP had 23 governors; but with the exit of seven, now has 16 governors.

The new merger party has 18 governors; while the remaining two states, Ondo and Anambra, are led by the Labour Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance respectively, although both governors are allies of Mr. Jonathan.

A similar permutation exists in the National Assembly.

The seven New PDP governors were expected to have a final meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan before taking a decision. It is not clear if the meeting would still be held.