The embattled National Secretary of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Imo East Senator, Senator Samuel Anyanwu is reportedly set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Close sources informed that negotiations for his defection are at advance stage and that it may take place as soon as the PDP scheduled National Convention is concluded. Or even much earlier.
Anyanwu, who is a known political ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has been accused of working to undermine the Party, including, setting legal booby traps for the party, through unauthorised communications with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The sources which refused names on print disclosed that Senator Anyanwu hopes to be rewarded with the APC governorship ticket in Imo State, for weakening the opposition Party in Nigeria, by working at cross-purposes with the National Chairman, Umar Damagum and the National Working Committee of the Party.
One of the sources revealed that even though the APC has not promised Anyanwu and his co-travelers anything, he is banking on promises by the FCT Minister who has assured him that they can displace some APC governors, to hijack APC structures in some States.
According to him, “Anyanwu is working hard to impress the APC hierarchy in Abuja, by destroying his own party, the PDP. He believes that the APC will reward him with its hibernate ticket after he has worked to weaken the PDP, but, I doubt if the President, a renowned democrat and advocate of Rule of Law, would sign off on such agreement with a known mercenary.
“Yes, Anyanwu is a known mercenary. If a man who is trusted by his Party with such a sensitive position as the National Secretary of his Party could make himself available to be used in attempts to destroy the Party, then, such a person cannot be trusted.”
However, Thescale.com.ng learnt that the APC National Working Committee has dismissed rumours of trying to settle anyone with its gubernatorial ticket. A top member of the APC National Working Committee reportedly said that anyone who wants to join the Party must go through the right channels, and that the Party would not give its ticket to anyone through non-democratic methods.
“The APC does not encourage anti-democratic practices and corruption. If anyone wants to become the Party’s candidate at any level, they must go through the right channels. They must go down to their wards and register, then, align with the Party’s structure in their State and convince them on why they deserve to become the Party’s candidate. We cannot impose candidates on States from Abuja,” the member added.
