Adeola Adefolabi, a former member of the House of Representatives, tells Senior Correspondent, ISHAYA IBRAHIM, that the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are brighter with the defections of some of its leaders to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The defection of some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seemed not to be bothering certain members of the opposition party. For this group, it has even made the chances of their party brighter ahead of the 2015 election.
Former member representing Ifako-Ijaiye federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Adeola Adefolabi, is a prominent scholar of this school of thought. He said he is unperturbed with the defections of some of his party’s stalwarts to the PDP.
Key leaders of the APC, who have been defecting to the PDP, include former Minister of Internal Affairs, Tom Ikimi; former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu; and Senator Annie Okonkwo who represented Anambra Central between 2007 and 2011. Others are former Governors Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno) and Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto).
With the defections, analysts have posited that the APC might be heading for a defeat in 2015, if nothing is done to reverse the trend.
But Adefolabi said the defections could not dampen the chances of the APC in the 2015 elections.
“Obviously, the election is between the PDP and the APC, and as you know, election is a game of numbers. I don’t see those that are defecting or moving to another party as a threat. I know very well of my party, the APC. We will win come 2015,” he insisted.
His reason is that the APC has the support of majority of Nigerians. “The people that are playing politics are not up to 10 per cent of the total population of our country. But the rest of the people know where they are going and they know what they want. If politicians are moving from one party to another, that will not stop the masses from going to where they are going. So, I am not bothered with the defections because the people will vote APC in 2015. “
According to Adefolabi, even with the insecurity in the country, the APC will be unstoppable in the election. He expressed confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to still deliver the goods.
His words: “I still respect Jega for what he has been doing so far. My fear is the problem of security. Insecurity in this country is just what I am afraid of. But INEC will do its job. I believe that once the security situation is put under control, APC will sweep the polls in 2015.”
On claims in some quarters that the Lagos State APC would have a rough time in convincing voters in the state to return it to power, Adefolabi said such thoughts could only exist in the imagination of PDP members.
Political pundits have said a number of factors – including the ban on commercial motorcycle (okada) operators, which seemed to have angered okada riders in the state, and Lagos State University (LASU) fees hike, although it has been reversed – would play prominent roles in the Lagos gubernatorial ballot.
The okada riders and LASU students are believed to be spoiling for showdown with the state government at the polls. But Adefolabi said it is not true.
“They should not look at Lagos State like Ekiti. They should not look at Lagos like that. I won’t tell you our strategy. But come that day, we will win. Lagos is a different state entirely,” he said.
Asked if the impression of APC as an imposition party worries him, he said: “There is nothing like imposition in our party. Before you can be imposed, you will have to be popular and capable of winning election. I believe sincerely in democracy. The last time (2011), we did primaries. And now, we are going to do the same. We are not going to impose anybody,” he said.
Adefolabi is contesting the House of Representatives ticket of the Ifako-Ijaiye federal constituency. He had served in that capacity between 2007 and 2011. He was a local government chairman for two terms and a House of Assembly member during the Ibrahim Babangida transition programme.
In the APC primaries billed to hold in October this year, Adefolabi would be slugging it out for the party’s ticket with Yomi Ogunnusi, the current occupier of the seat.
But Adefolabi still believes he is the man to beat.
“Whatever changes that may have happened, it is for the glory of Almighty God. It is for the glory of Almighty Allah that the change came. I believe sincerely that we are on the ground,” he added.
