President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that majority of the National Assembly members who decamped from the All Progressives Congress, APC, did so because of their re-election quest in 2019.
President Buhari wrote the comment on his Twitter page in reaction to 51 lawmakers who left the APC for the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, and the Africa Democratic Congress, ADC on Tuesday.
According to the President, some of the decamped lawmakers left the ruling party because they are facing severe contest for their seats in their constituencies, especially those who are constrained by the zoning policy.
“As the saying goes, all politics is local. We understand that some of the Distinguished and Honourable lawmakers have issues in/with their home states, especially on zoning which bars some of them from seeking another term in their constituencies”, he tweeted.
President Buhari stated that he never harboured any ill-feelings towards any of the decamped lawmakers neither did they express any grievance towards him or the government.
Noting that the party did all it could to stop the defection, the President expressed confidence that the defection will not in anyway dampen the APC’s leadership role, especially as the 2019 general elections approach.
“I am confident that no harm or injury will be done by these defections, to the APC and its aspirations. I urge party faithful to not despair, but to instead see this as something that happens in seasons like this, on the eve of elections.”
He wished the decamped members all the very best in their in their future undertakings.
Recall that 15 Senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives announced their defection from the APC to other political parties.
Majority of the lawmakers defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP.
