Fresh defections loom as govs close in on senators’ seats

SUNDAY ABORISADE, OLUFEMI ATOYEBI, SUCCESS NWOGU and JUSTIN TYOPUUSU

The nation’s polity is set to witness fresh gale of defections as a result of the resolve of more senators to dump their parties after their governors have indicated interest in or planning to take over their tickets ahead of the 2019 elections.

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Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that many of the senators, especially members of the All Progressives Congress, had relied on the assurances of the national leadership of the party that they would be given automatic tickets to return to the red chamber next year if they did not join their colleagues to the Peoples Democratic Party in July.

Many of them, however, started making last-minute arrangements last week after it had become clear that the governors, some of who are determined to unseat them, would determine their political fate.

Some of the affected senators are Adesoji Akanbi (Oyo South), Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South), Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central), Hope Uzodinma (Imo West), Ahmed Rufai (Zamfara West), Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe North) and Baba Garbai ( Borno Central).

Pressure mounts on Tejuoso to leave APC

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH in Ogun State revealed that Tejuoso, who was among the APC senators that shelved their planned defection to the PDP on the floor of the Senate in July, was shocked last week when he was not listed as one of the consensus candidates announced by the party.

According to a source, Tejuoso, who had thought that he would get the ticket based on the agreement reached between the APC senators and the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, attended the stakeholders meeting in Abeokuta, in high hopes.

He was said to have told some of his associates that he would purchase his nomination form after the meeting not aware that the governor had perfected a smart arrangement to ease him out of the race.

He was said to have told some of his associates that he would purchase his nomination form after the meeting not aware that the governor had perfected a smart arrangement to ease him out of the race.

The source said, “The only option available to him now is to test his political popularity by seeking reelection on the platform of another party. I think that is why he refused to obtain the form before the meeting.”

Another source, who claimed to be an associate of the senator, told one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity that Tejuoso would realise his ambition on the platform of another party.

The source said, “The party leadership, including President Muhammadu Buhari, appealed to the senator to rescind his decision to defect when his other aggrieved colleagues did so with an assurance that he and other would get automatic tickets.

“He is a popular candidate. He will realise his ambition on another platform. Other parties are talking to him already.”

Tejuoso had yet to respond to a message sent to his mobile as of the time of filing this report. Persistent efforts to speak with him on the telephone also failed.
However, the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr. Wole Elegbede, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the issue would not affect the party.

He said, “There is no crisis with respect to that issue. Senator Lanre Tejuoso has not indicated his interest to seek reelection. He was at the stakeholders meeting where we agreed to go for consensus.

“When they called for consensus, Tejuoso raised his hand in support of the idea. He has not even obtained his nomination form as I talk to you today (Thursday evening).

Akanbi to dump APC this week

In Oyo State, the APC chairman in the state, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, told one of our correspondents that Governor Abiola Ajimobi had purchased nomination forms to enable him to contest the Oyo South Senatorial seat next year.

Ajimobi’s action had, therefore, set the stage for him to vie for the party’s ticket with Soji Akanbi, the current occupant of the seat.

When contacted, an aide to the Senator, Wole Ajayi, said it would be suicidal for Akanbi to compete with Ajimobi who already had the party structure in his custody.

He, however, said a modality was being worked out that would ensure that Akanbi returns to the Senate in 2019.

He said, “We did not make any comment on the issue because the coast was not clear. But today, we know where we are going since the governor has obtained the forms.

“We are not going to contest in the primary with the governor; that will be suicidal. We don’t have the party structure and the financial strength to contend with him.

“We are making consultations on the next move and by Sunday (today) or Monday, we will have an answer to some of the questions being asked by our supporters.