The remaining 22 governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have assured President Muhammadu Buhari that they will not leave the party.
Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, who is the chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, said this on Wednesday after the governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The governors met with Buhari hours after another member of the party and Governor of Sokoto state Aminu Tambuwal defected to the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, became the third governor to leave the ruling party in one week.
Benue state governor Samuel Ortom had left the party on 24 July, while Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Senate President Bukola Saraki announced their exits from the APC on 31 July.
But speaking with journalists after the meeting with Buhari, Okorocha said despite the departures of three members of the forum, which he said did not come as a surprise to them, the APC remained stronger and more united.
He said they were at the villa to assure the president of their resolute support for him and the party ahead of the 2019 general election.
The 22 governors, Concise News learned, were led to the State House by the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.
Those in attendance included Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).
Others are Mohammed Abubakar (Jigawa), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Simon Lalung (Plateau), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).
But governors Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara, Ondo’s Rotimi Akeredolu, and Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi were absent.
