The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has hinted of a blueprint to draw other political parties into a merger agreement with the ruling party ahead of the 2027 election to boost its membership and followership across the country.
Ganduje made the disclosure while fielding questions from journalists on the recent viral photo of the visit of Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State governor, to his (Ganduje’s) Abuja residence.
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While clarifying that he has not yet discussed with Wike, a minister-designate, about him joining the party, the APC national chairman, however, did not rule out such possibility in the near future.
“You know Wike is an honourable minister-designate, so he came, we discussed because I was looking for him to congratulate him for that, and also he came to congratulate me and we discussed that when he becomes minister fully he will work very hard in order to move the ministry he is given forward and he is ready to cooperate.
“But we didn’t discuss the issue of his coming to APC or not coming to APC. That issue will arise later” He said.
He, however, expressed hope that the coming of Wike, when it eventually happens, will boost the followership of the party.
Beyond Wike joining APC, Ganduje disclosed that already a blueprint underground is ongoing to bring some of the political parties into a merger agreement to boost the followership of APC before the 2027 general election.
“It will certainly improve the chances of this our party, especially in 2027 and not only that we are coming out with a new blueprint to increase the followership of the party and this will include all strata of officials; those who are in APC and those who are in other political parties. I assure you very soon some of the political parties will even merge with the APC. We are doing that underground.”
Asked if Wike’s ministerial appointment was not based on the spirit of government of national unity somehow canvased by the APC, Ganduje replied: “But the spirit of national unity does not mean the spirit of one party in Nigeria. Spirit of national unity means spirit of national competence and spirit of national capacity.”