Finally, Ikimi leaves APC

Former minister of foreign affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, has announced his exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ikimi – a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party and also a founding member of the then Action Congress (AC) – wrote a letter to the leadership of the party notifying it of his decision and saying he wanted to examine the main political parties in the country before making his choice.

TheCable had earlier reported that the 70-year-old was on the verge of defecting from APC to PDP based on his unhappiness with how he was treated with disrespect at the June convention of the party.

“I am at the stage of currently critically re-examining the two dominant political parties in our country, which are the APC and the PDP, in both of which I have had close working knowledge,” he read.

“I have not ignored the other political parties but in the light of the foregoing, I must now search to really ascertain where indeed my true political friends exist.

“I need to be, at this time of my life, where I have friends who share a common vision with me and where my freedom, respect, honor and dignity would be guaranteed.

“Notwithstanding my enormous contributions over the past 12 years or so to building the alternative platform, after very deep thoughts and the widest consultations, I have made the decision to withdraw my membership from the All Progressives Congress from today.”

Ikimi has come a long way in Nigerian politics.

He was once the national chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) and also the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention presidential election panel in January 2003.

One time special adviser to the former head of state, Sani Abacha, Ikimi hails from Edo state.