An associate of former Lagos State governor and Presidential hopeful, Senator Bola Tinubu, has hinted that the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may dump the ruling party for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
According to the associate, Tinubu has concluded plans to dump the ruling party and would do that if the May 30 primary of the APC is schemed against him.
The associate, who did not want his name revealed, spoke to Vanguard. He told the paper that the development was the reason former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal recently said that Tinubu had plan B if APC primaries are manipulated against him.
He said while Tinubu will love to actualise his dream of becoming the president of Nigeria on the APC platform, he may have no other option than join SDP or any other party if the APC primaries come short of transparency and credibility.
The associate said, “It is too early to ask if Asiwaju would leave the APC for another party. He is a big factor in APC, a party he helped form, financed and nurtured into what it is today. We are not unaware of recent developments and attempts to insult a man who has paid his dues in the political evolution of this country. But that is not important for now. What I can tell you is that our leader, like other contestants, is looking forward to a credible process that would lead to the emergence of our flag bearer. But if that process is compromised, I can tell you for free that we will encourage him to explore other options.
“Yes, a lot has been said about SDP and Asiwaju. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it. SDP offered him a platform to become a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria years ago but for now, he is in APC and will remain there until circumstance dictates otherwise.”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonayya Onu, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, among others are those contending the presidential ticket of the APC with Tinubu.
Recall a presidential aspirant, Moses Ayom, recently called on Babachir Lawal to withdraw his comment on Tinubu’s possible defection. He said Lawal’s comment was a threat to the Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee of the APC.
“Right now, the NWC is the leadership of the APC and it should be given all kinds of support to succeed. The idea of indirectly threatening the NWC that Tinubu has another option if he is not given the ticket should not arise at all. As a committed APC leader from the Middle-Belt, I call on Babachir to withdraw the comments and apologise to the party immediately,” Ayom had said.
