[dropcap]M[/dropcap]inister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who also doubles as the Director General of Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation has declared that President Buhari would emerge victorious in Sokoto and Kwara in the 2019 elections even if the governors of the states defected from the ruling APC.
Sokoto state governor Aminu Tambuwal and his colleague in Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed, are being rumoured to be planning to move to the opposition PDP. And Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers state and a chieftain of the ruling party, told newsmen on Friday that despite the gale of defections in the party, the APC has nothing to worry about.
He also said even if Buhari was admitted to a hospital in parts of the country, he would still win.
When told that the APC might be heading for a collapse considering the gale of defection in the party, the minister said, “That’s according to you. Look, you are not a politician so you can’t be commenting on what you don’t know. In fact let’s look at it. Unfortunately I don’t want to speak about this but you are putting me under pressure.
“However, no matter what you do, the Governor of Sokoto will leave naturally. He has ambition to be president. If you take a chicken to him he will still go. The same with Kwara. These are people you expect that they will leave.”
He said, “On those that defected at the House of Representatives and Senate, where do they come from? They come from areas that the President is comfortable. Do you honestly believe that the President will lose election in Sokoto? We are not God, but it’s one of his comfort zones.
“If you bring the President on a sick bed to Bauchi and Kano, he will win and he has never lost election in Bauchi. But that is a bit arrogant on our side; we should not underestimate them. “I am not God. It is only God who can say the APC will win or not. But what is clear is that if you remove the God element, I think we are prepared to coast to victory because Nigerians will certainly reject a second looting. Nigeria can’t survive a second looting. Never!”
He said the delay by the opposition party to name its candidate for the presidential election about six months to the election would work in favour of the ruling party. “In our time, it was clear who would be the APC candidate one year ahead of time,” he added.

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]resident Muhammadu Buhari late Wednesday night met with Senators on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. But Senate President, Bukola Saraki who has not officially defected from the party was conspicuously absent during the meeting.
Though there was no official statement on the agenda and outcome of the meeting, it was believed that the gale of defection that hit the ruling party Tuesday in the two chambers of the National Assembly was the issue in focus.
Altogether, 42 out of 53 expected senators attended the meeting including Senator Lanre Tejuoso who earlier defected but failed to name any political party he had moved to.
The delegation according to reports was led by the Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan.
Among Senators present at the meeting include: Adamu Aleiro, Bala Ibn Na-Allah, Aliyu Wamako, Ibrahim Gobir, Kabiru Marafa, Abu Ibrahim, Kabiru Gaya, Barau Jibrin, Abdullahi Gumel, Shehu Sani, Ahmed Lawan, Ali Ndume, Abubakar Kyari, Baba Kaka Garbai, Aliyu Abdullahi, David Umaru, Abdullahi Adamu, George Akume, Francis Alimekhina, Andrew Uchendu, Magnus Abe, Ovie Omo-Agege, John Enoh, Nelson Effiong, Andy Uba, Sunny Ugboji, Hope Uzodinma.
Others are Ben Uwajimogu, Yusuf Yusuf, Oluremi Tinubu, Gbenga Ashafa, Solomon Adeola, Tayo Alasoadura, Soji Akanbi, Ajayi Boroface, Yele Omogunwa, Fatima Rasaki, Olanrewaju Tejuoso, Yahaya Abdullahi.
While making self introduction, Tejuoso told Buhari, “your son has returned back” to which Buhari replied, “what would I have told Kabiyesi”, referring to Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Okeona of Egbaland. When the meeting kicked off properly State House reporters were asked to excuse the meeting.
National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress Adams Oshiomhole, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari including Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang were present.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has announced his defection from All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor made the announcement at a meeting with elected local government chairmen and councillors on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at the Government House Makurdi, hours after protesting youths barred him from traveling to Abuja to attend the APC reconciliation meeting.The announcement brings to an end months of speculation that the governor will return to the PDP as a result of his disagreement with leaders of the party in Benue and at the national level. His defection follows major political decisions in the state over the last three weeks.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Governor Samuel Ortom’s defection as surprising as according to our source, “The Governor had left the meeting saying he was satisfied with the assurances given by party leaders,we are still working on giving effect to the resolutions from the meeting.” With this latest development, APC spokesman has called on its members to remain calm, adding that the party’s leadership are working hard to reach aggrieved members and resolve issues.