By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The All Progressives Congress will receive over 10,000 new members defecting from the African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and Nigeria Democratic Congress.
The defection is being coordinated by the Maji Johnson Bello Movement. A formal ceremony will hold after consultations with the APC leadership.
Leaders of the Movement met with APC officials at the National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday to conclude preparations. They were received on behalf of National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, by his Personal Private Secretary, Comrade Jibrin Bancir.
Bancir described the development as a boost to the party’s grassroots mobilisation. He said the APC was encouraged by the organisational capacity and political network of the MJB Movement.
“We are delighted by the huge capacity that the MJB Movement is bringing to the table. The APC is ready to receive and integrate all of you into the structures of the party,” Bancir said.
He assured that mechanisms would be put in place for seamless integration from ward level.
“We will work out the necessary procedures to ensure that everybody has a place to operate and contribute meaningfully at the local level,” he said.
“Politics is local. We will ensure that everybody knows you in your local government as bona fide members of the APC,” he added.
Bancir said new members would be properly registered across ward, local government, state and national structures. He urged the Movement to sustain mobilisation and promised institutional support.
Earlier, MJB Movement Chairman, Maji Johnson Bello, said the decision followed an assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
“We have taken time to examine the situation in the country and the reforms being undertaken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are convinced that the direction of the administration offers Nigeria the best opportunity to overcome its present economic realities and build a stronger future,” Bello said.
He stated that the Movement was joining to support the administration’s efforts to reposition the economy, not for political convenience.
Bello said the defection would commence a wider mobilisation drive. He added that the Movement would deploy its grassroots network to recruit more Nigerians into the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
