2015: Nigerians have rejected APC - PDP

• Says no more automatic ticket

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, declared that the main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally met its waterloo as Nigerians, both Muslims and Christians, have started rejecting the party, even before the 2015 general election.

The national publicity secretary of the party, Chief Oliseh Metuh, disclosed this at the PDP national headquarters, when he received a member of the House of Representatives, representing Idemili North/South federal constituency of Anambra State, Honourable Charles Odedo, who defected from APC to PDP.

 The lawmaker would present his defection letter to the leadership of the House of Representatives today.

Chief Metuh, while welcoming the lawmaker who left the PDP to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), following a crisis in the party, said: “the Christians, Muslims, south-westerners, easterners and northerners have all rejected APC. The message is very loud and clear and it is good Nigerians discovered the stuff APC is made of.”

According to him, “in PDP, there is internal democracy. We allow people to choose their leaders. You may not have anything but you can rise to the highest point under this party. There is no godfather in PDP. What we have is God the Father. In the APC, the reverse is the case. It is imposition and imposition.”

He urged the lawmaker to work for PDP beyond 2015, stressing that “there is no automatic ticket to returning members. You have worked with the party. If you have ambition, let the people decide.” Chief Metuh, who also commented on the fight against insurgency in the country, added that Jonathan had been able to “calm the situation in the entire country” in spite of attempts by some opponents to take advantage of his gentle nature to cause instability in the country.

Speaking earlier, Honourable Odedo who was elected into the lower chamber in 2007 under the PDP, pointed out that he had always supported Jonathan’s transformation agenda. He revealed that he was the only ACN lawmaker who voted for the president’s candidate in the election of House of Representatives leadership.

He said that he decided to leave the APC because he did not believe in the merger.

Odedo, who described the APC as a one-man show, said “let the will of the people prevail. APC is one man show. I was not consulted before the merger. The constitution allows me to go. I am back home as your son, please accept me.”

Earlier, the State Chairman of the PDP, Prince Ken Emeakayi, who admitted that Odedo left the PDP because of internal wrangling in the state party, however described Odedo as “a lost sheep who has returned” noting that he was returning to PDP because the party has changed.

Culled: www.tribune.com.ng