PHOTOS: Ganduje receives members of Atiku support groups into APC

Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has received some members of the support groups of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar into the ruling party.

The former vice-president was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.

Ganduje received members of the support group from 19 northern states under the aegis of the Coalition of Atiku Support Groups in the 2023 Elections on Friday at the ruling party’s headquarters.

The former governor of Kano claimed that the APC is the “most peaceful party in Africa,” noting that those who defected from the PDP would enjoy the same privileges as old party members.

Ganduje added that Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker of the house of representatives, would be present when all members of the coalition would be received into the APC after Ramadan.

Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, was said to have facilitated the defection of the groups.

Representatives of the group from each of the northern states who attended the event promised to work for President Bola Tinubu’s reelection in 2027.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Abubakar Malami said members of the various groups are impressed with Tinubu’s efforts to develop the region by signing the development commission bills into law.

“To tackle the challenges facing our region, the president has established the North West Development Commission (NWDC) following a bill sponsored by the deputy president of the senate, senator Barau Jibrin,” Malami said.

“This is the game changer. Mr. President has also established the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

“Another thing that has endeared the President Tinubu-led APC government to us is the Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in North West (BIARN), a brainchild of the deputy president of the senate.”

The deputy senate president described the defection as a “big catch.”

“We are making a big catch today at our party,” he added.

“It is good that you are teaming up with Mr. President so that he will succeed in his effort to change our development trajectory and make this country a land of El Dorado. This is a very good development. Today, we are happy you are joining the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu family.”

See pictures from the event below.