No Plans To Defect From APC –  Governor Zulum Declares

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has rubbished the talks making the rounds about his intended defection to the nascent Coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, ADC. The ADC is the Party of choice by some political forces among whom are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party LP Peter Obi. It’s Protem Chairman and National Secretary are former Senate President, David Mark and the former two term Governor of Osun State, estranged political ally of President Bola Tinubu, Rauf Aregbesola.

Zulum’s denial is coming against the backdrop of widespread speculations claiming that he is on the brink of leading no fewer than five All Progressive Congress, APC, Governors into the Coalition family.

The Source reports that the Borno state Governor is strongly believed to be greatly unsettled by  alleged moves to sideline Vice President Kashim Shettima from the second term ambition of his boss, President Tinubu.

At the APC North East stakeholders meeting in Gombe State recently, Governor Zulum, led a protest against the refusal of the party leadership to include the Vice President in their endorsement of the President’s second term ambition.

This development, as well as certain political undercurrents which appear to have conferred a significant measure of credence to the rumoured plans to supplant Shettima as President Tinubu’s running mate in 2027 have accentuated talks about his loyalists including the Governor seeking alternative political abode.

The Vice President hails from Borno State, and is the immediate past  Governor of the State.

But in a statement at the weekend , from his media aide Dauda Iliya , the Borno state Governor described his rumoured defection plans as an unfounded fabrication being peddled by some unscrupulous elements seeking political relevance.

This is just as he reaffirmed his unflinching loyalty and commitment to the APC as a party.

“We have become aware of a fictitious and mischievous social media report circulating in certain quarters, alleging plans by me to decamp from the All Progressive Congress, APC, to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, alongside five other Governors.

“This is entirely false, and exist only in the imagination of its sponsors. They are detractors who have made no meaningful contributions to the progress of Borno state or Nigeria.

“It is a classic example of cheap, politically motivated speculation designed solely to distract us ,and create unnecessary political tension.

” My loyalty to the APC remains firm and my dedication is solely to the welfare and progress of Borno state.

“I call on media outlets and the public to verify information from credible official sources ,and ignore the desperate fabrications of those seeking relevance through disinformation .

“We remain resolute in our commitment to serving Borno state under the banner of our great party ,the APC ” the statement quoted Governor Zulum as saying.”