Defection: Atiku, Kwankwaso, others await Buhari’s decision on 2019 poll –Investigation

There are strong indications that some top members of the All Progressives Congress are awaiting the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari on whether to contest the 2019 presidential election or not.

Saturday PUNCH gathered on Friday that the President’s decision on whether he would contest in the election would determine if some chieftains of the APC, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, would defect from the party.

It was learnt that Buhari had been quiet about his political ambition.

A top government official, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the issue had not come up in any of the discussions Buhari had with his visitors in London and that he had not shared his decision on the matter with any of his associates.

Investigations, however, showed that Atiku might defect to the Peoples Democratic Party if Buhari eventually decides to contest in the 2019 presidential election.

It was gathered that the former vice-president, who would be 73 years old in 2019, saw the next presidential election as the best opportunity for him.

It was learnt that he would stay in the ruling party and contest in the primary with the likes of Kwankwaso and the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who had also been tipped for the presidential race.

Investigations also revealed that although Kwankwaso was not happy with the way the last congress of the APC in Kano State was conducted, he was hopeful of getting the party’s presidential ticket in the next primary.

The former governor of Kano State, who had been at loggerheads with his successor, Abdullahi Ganduje, was reported to have defected to the PDP early this week.

He had, however, denied the report.

A source in the APC, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, said the former governor thought he had the best chance to pick the APC presidential ticket if Buhari declined to contest.

The source stated that Kwankwaso thought that with his growing popularity among northern youths and his performance at the 2014 APC presidential primary, he could get the 2019 ticket.

It was learnt that he would contend with Atiku, who seems to have more national spread and growing support in the South.

A member of the APC National Working Committee, who does not want to be named, said Buhari was aware that the political atmosphere would be charged once his decision on the matter was made public.

The APC chieftain stated, “We are aware that the President’s decision will boost the chances of the party in the 2019 elections. We are also not ignorant of the fact that Atiku, Kwankwaso and others are being wooed by the PDP. We are ready for the PDP with or without those two people.”

Although, the President had not disclosed his decision on the matter, his media aide, Garba Shehu, had in May 2017, said Buhari would win the election if fielded by the APC.

Shehu had said Nigerians were happy with Buhari and would still vote for him, adding that “the confidence reposed in Buhari by ordinary Nigerians had remained unshaken because the President” is doing what they want.

It was not clear if the Governor Nyesom Wike-led Reconciliation Committee of the PDP had visited Atiku, Kwankwaso and other former chieftains of the opposition party, but one of our correspondents gathered that the former vice-president was favourably disposed to returning to the former ruling party.

However, sources close to Atiku said he was being tactical.

One of the sources said, “He is waiting for Buhari. If the President says he’s running for a second term, then Atiku would leave the party for them and join the PDP.