2 PDP chieftains resign in Niger

Lanre ADipo Laleye, Minnadewole, Abuja - 05.11.2009

A major crack has occurred in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State as two founding members of the party have tendered their letters of resignation from the party

Captain Abubakr Isah Mokwa, erstwhile Chief Political Adviser to former Governor Abdulkhadir Kure, and Alhaji Abubakar Magaji former North Central zone vice chairman of the party, quit the party they assisted to form in 1998 in separate resignation letters.

The resignation of the two political bigwigs in the state, according to findings, would be the beginning of mass defections from the PDP by loyalists of former Governor Kure who are aggrieved by their allegedly being sidelined since the change of baton from the former governor to incumbent Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

It was learnt that the departed party leaders would be the foundation and rallying point for politicians in and outside government that initially plann to announce joining the Buhari, Atiku and Tinubu-led new National Democratic Movement at the end of this month.

However, according to sources close to the group, the mass defection had been shifted till the first quarter of next year to enable the leadership of the new political movement to clear some grey areas that could hinder the smooth take off of the new political party they intend to form.

Captain Mokwa, in his resignation letter to his Mokwa Central ward, gave November 3, 2009 as the effective date of his resignation.