Defection: Jonathan Secretly Meets PDP N’Assembly Leaders

President Goodluck Jonathan has held a secret meeting with the Peoples Democratic Party leadership in the National Assembly.

As the investigations in Abuja showed, the meeting began at 11pm on Monday and ended at 2am on Tuesday.

According to the information gathered, the issues discussed at the meeting included the intractable crisis in the PDP, particularly the recent defection of five of its governors to the All Progressives Congress; and the delay in presenting the 2014 budget.

Those at the meeting were the President of the Senate, David Mark; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; and the Senate Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal; his deputy, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; the Majority Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola and the Deputy Majority Leader, Leo Ogor, were also at the meeting.

It was learnt that the President was concerned that with the defection of five PDP governors, the PDP might lose its majority position in the National Assembly to the APC.  

Moreover, a source at the meeting said the President and others at the meeting considered measures that could be adopted to ensure that the PDP members in the National Assembly did not join their governors in the APC.

The 5 governors that left the PDP on November 26 are Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); and Abdulfatah Ahmed(Kwara).

It was gathered that among measures being considered to prevent mass defection of the lawmakers to the APC were offering automatic tickets to those who stayed in the ruling party.

It was also gathered President urged the National Assembly leadership to ensure a smooth passage of the 2014 budget when it is eventually presented.

When contacted, Ogor confirmed the fact of the meeting and demanded to know why journalists wanted to know what they discussed.

He asked, "Why do you want to know what we discussed? Are you a member of our party (the PDP)?"

Punch