In a significant political shift, approximately 119,000 members of the Action Democratic Party, led by governorship candidate Erelu Kemi Halle, have defected to the All Progressives Congress.
The defection ceremony took place at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday where the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, welcomed the new members.
According to sources, Halle and her supporters were drawn to the APC due to its progressive ideals and the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Halle expressed support for the president’s policies, acknowledging initial reservations about certain decisions but now seeing them as necessary for the country’s progress, according to Independent.
She said: “If you look at all the policies of the government, it takes time. You cannot be pregnant in a day and give birth on the same day. And instead of the baby to start crawling on the same day, to start walking the same day, to start feeling the same thing, it is going to be a phase of metamorphosis.”
Explaining why they decided to join the APC, the ADP governorship candidate said that they decided to join the ruling party because they want to be a progressive partner, adding, “we were more than 120,000 that defected from ADP to APC across the country.”
Meanwhile, the APC Stakeholders Forum in the North-East has passed a unanimous vote of confidence on President Tinubu’s administration.
The forum’s chairman, Haruna Sardauna, cited several initiatives as reasons for their endorsement, including the establishment of the South East and North West development commissions.
Other notable initiatives praised by the forum include the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, the Students Loan program, and the Renewed Hope Agenda. The latter aims to return 10 million out-of-school children to education and reform the Almajiri system. Additionally, the administration’s empowerment programs, which provide funding for NYSC members to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, were commended.
Sardauna expressed optimism about the country’s future under President Tinubu’s leadership, urging citizens to persevere and support the administration’s vision for a better Nigeria. The vote of confidence reflects growing support for the president’s policies and initiatives across various regions.
He said: “The Northeast APC Stakeholders Forum is passing a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. We will continue to advocate to Nigerians on his laudable efforts aimed at taking Nigeria to greater Insha Allah.”
