The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in a row over weekend’s visit by APC governors to former President Goodluck Jonathan, a PDP chieftain in Abuja.
While the PDP said the visit underscored an endorsement of the acceptability of the former president and the PDP, the ruling party said the opposition platform was rattled and disoriented by the visit.
PDP Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbodiyan said in a statement that the visit affirmed that “Nigeria as a nation is better under the leadership of the PDP.”
But, chiding the PDP for its reaction, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Yakini Nabena said PDP has lost focus.
Dr Jonathan on Friday, played host to four APC governors – Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa): Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); and National Caretaker Chairman Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), along with some party leaders.
The governors’ visit to the former president, barely 24 hours after the Ebonyi governor defected to the APC, was said to have upset the PDP leadership.
According to sources, what unnerved PDP leaders was that no APC governor had paid Jonathan a birthday visit since he lost power in 2015.
Another event that was said to have heightened fears in the opposition camp was the presence of some PDP big wigs at the wedding ceremony of Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Nasir El-Rufai’s son in Abuja.
Dr. Jonathan was said to have supported the APC during the last governorship election in his Bayelsa home state.
Also, PDP leaders have expressed concern over the likelihood of the APC leaders baiting Jonathan with the ruling party’s 2023 presidential ticket.
They fear the former President may swallow the bait, with the possible implication of
returning power to the North after a-four-year tenure. Constitutionally, Jonathan has only a single chance to contest for President again.
Ologbodiyan said APC leaders who discredited Jonathan in 2015 are now singing his praises.