4 Things Saraki’s rumoured defection could mean for PDP

The Nigerian political space in recent memory has been rife with defections which has seen politicians ‘jump the ship’ from one political party to another, apparently in a bid to grease the wheels of their individual political interests.

With news media currently echoing an imminent return of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki to the APC, Daily Times takes a look at a number of politicians who could be lining up to cross-carpet once again as this narrative of cats and mice continues to play out.

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1 Bolaji Abdullahi:

Bolaji Abdullahi is a former Minister of sports and youth development under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration. In December 2016, Abdullahi was announced as the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress. Following mass defection of APC senators from the 8th assembly to the opposition party, PDP, Bolaji Abdullahi resigned his position and joined in on the mass defection with his political godfather, Saraki. Being a known loyalist of the former senate president, it stands to reason that he may be lining up another move to join his longstanding benefactor.

2 Dino Melaye:

Dino Melaye is one of the APC senators who joined the mass defection in 2018. Known for being controversially vocal during his term in the 8th assembly representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has carved out a reputation for himself as one of the fierce critics of the current APC government; but, with his political fortunes dwindling of late and with his trusted crony gearing up to jump the ship once again, the controversial politician could be inspired to do the same.

3 Samuel Ortom:

The Benue State Governor was elected into office under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, but opted to cross over following an internal party crisis. With the consequent rise in stock of his former party, rumours are beginning to surface that he may be staging a return to his first love.

4 Rafiu Ibrahim:

Rafiu Ibrahim represented Kwara South senatorial district in the 8th assembly, and is one of the senators who defected to the PDP in 2018, a move which would prove costly, as he lost his re-election bid to the opposition party. With Saraki’s imminent return, Sen Rafiu could once again swing back in an effort to revive his dwindled political career.