Ikimi eyes PDP after leaving ‘discriminatory’ APC

Former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tom Ikimi, has met with leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to express his readiness to join the party and pull in his political structure in the south-south geo-political zone to ensure its victory in the 2015 general elections.

PDP national chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, who led a delegation of party leaders to meet Ikimi in Abuja to finalise arrangements for his formal declaration, expressed PDP’s happiness with Ikimi’s return.

Mu’azu described Ikimi as a highly organised and patriotic Nigerian who has the interest of the nation at heart, adding that such qualities made it hard for him to be in a party like the APC. He said the PDP would immensely benefit from Ikimi’s “wealth of experience, strong political structure and massive followership across the country”.

The national chairman praised the Edo-born politician for his courage in deciding to return to the PDP, while assuring him that the party, under the new leadership, recognises and rewards loyalty, commitment and experience.

In the same vein, chairman of PDP board of trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, commended Ikimi for his decision, which he said was in the overall interest of the nation.

Responding, Ikimi, who restated that he dumped the APC due to its deep-seated anti-nationalistic and discriminatory tendencies, said he was ready to join the PDP and use his political structures especially in the south-south to ensure that it emerges victorious in the 2015 general election.

“I look forward to bringing value to the PDP. I believe that my contributions will again be noteworthy. By my joining PDP, we are assured of victory not only in Edo state but in the entire south south geo-political zone”, Ikimi said, saying he would serve the party in any capacity deemed appropriate by the leaders.

Stating that the visit had laid to rest speculations and arguments regarding where he had resolved to pitch his tent, Ikimi said he would transmit the outcome of the meeting to his constituency and assured the visiting PDP leaders that the response would be favourable.

He also said that he desired to work with Chief Tony Anenih so as to move the party and the nation forward and bring about the much-expected development to Edo state and the south-south.

“I believe that our people are looking forward to this reunion because they will benefit the most from it. When Chief Tony Anenih and I work together, I do not think we can have any obstacle we cannot overcome”, he said.

Ikimi, a founding member of the PDP, announced his exit from the APC on Tuesday.