President Muhammadu Buhari is undaunted with the Tuesday’s defection of at least 52 lawmakers from his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.
Instead, the APC leader wished all the defectors well in their future endeavour.
No fewer than 15 senators and 37 members of House of Representative defected from APC to other political parties in an alignment ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said on Tuesday that the president was committed to the values of democracy, freedom of choice.
The President is also totally willing to work with all members of the National Assembly, irrespective of their political party in the interest of the nation.
“As the saying goes, all politics is local. We understand that some of the distinguished and honourable lawmakers have issues with their home states, especially on zoning which bars some of them from seeking another term in their constituencies,” he said.
He explained that none of the lawmakers who defected had “any specific grievances against him or the government he leads” and that the APC had done its utmost to stop the defections.
Also, the President commended the leadership of the party for relentlessly working for its unity and ensuring success in the upcoming elections and assured members of the APC of his total support.
Despite the defection, the President urged party members not to despair but to see the development as a seasonal occurrence that happens on election eve.
He expressed confidence that no harm or injury will be done to the party and its aspirations by the movements.
In his reaction to the developments Tuesday morning at the National Assembly, the President noted that none of the defecting federal lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had any specific grievances against him or the government he leads; neither did he harbour anything against any of them.
President Buhari wished all the decamped members the best in their future undertakings.
