Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has said that none of the governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will defect with the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who just resigned from the party.
The governor spoke to journalists after the Friday Jumat prayer at the mosque in the Presidential Villa, Abuja while reacting to the exit of Atiku from the APC on Friday.
On whether some APC governors would defect and follow Atiku to his new party, el-Rufai said, “That I am sure of. I can speak authoritatively about it because I’m in touch with my colleagues.
“The only governor that he would think will go with him, the governor of Adamawa State has already endorsed President Buhari for the 2019 election. And there are many governors, I will not mention the number but a majority of the APC governors have already taken the position that the president should run for a second term in office.”
Governor el-Rufai also said, ”Atiku is not and has never been a threat to Buhari. We are confident that the way to preserve our party and preserve and advance the interest of Nigeria is for Mr. President to run for a second term. I’m curious to see which APC governor will go with Atiku.”
The Daily Times recalls that Adamawa State Governor Jibrilla Bindow had previously declared his support for Atiku whom he acknowledged as the sponsor of his governorship election.
The governor had in December 2015 disclosed that Atiku gave him N500million for his campaign. But shortly before Atiku defect from the APC, the Adamawa State chapter of the APC pledged support for President Buhari if he declares to run in 2019. Atiku, who hails from Adamawa State, has contested the presidential couple of times without success
