The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has described the defection of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and his Enugu counterpart, Peter Mbah, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a welcome relief, saying their exit poses no threat to the opposition party.
Reacting to the development, Kano PDP Chairman, Yusif Kibiya, said the party was “glad” the governors had left, adding that their departure had long been anticipated.
“It’s not a shocker. All of us in the PDP knew they were going. We are glad they are gone because you can’t deal with people who play double-edged politics,” Kibiya told Vanguard on Wednesday night.
He alleged that the defections were part of the APC’s broader plan to weaken opposition voices through inducement and intimidation.
“These people were either compromised, paid, or threatened by the central government. It’s very clear. So, it’s nothing new,” he said.
The Kano PDP chairman dismissed fears that the defections could affect the PDP’s electoral strength, insisting that the real power rests with voters, not governors.
“Is the governor the electorate? People are making this mistake. The coming election will be between Nigerians and the government — not PDP versus APC,” Kibiya stated.
He maintained that the PDP would focus on producing credible candidates capable of winning the trust of Nigerians.
“Let all the governors go to the APC; I don’t even see how that party is going to function,” he added.
Kibiya argued that internal crises were not peculiar to the PDP, noting that many politicians who left the party in the past eventually became politically irrelevant.
“In every party, there are internal issues. Those who betrayed the PDP and formed new parties thought the PDP was dead. Where are they now? Wait for the time,” he said.
Concluding, Kibiya predicted an imminent crisis in the ruling party, saying confidently, “APC will explode. Of course, it will explode.”
