Buhari to meet 22 aggrieved A'Ibom PDP aspirants

All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is to meet with 22 Peoples Democratic Party aspirants, who have been aggrieved over the conduct of the PDP's governorship primary in Akwa Ibom State.

An aide to one of the aspirants, who preferred to be anonymous, told our correspondent in Uyo on Monday that the aggrieved aspirants, otherwise known as G22, had been under intense pressure to defect to the APC.

He stated that the G22, who had earlier ignored the calls to defect to the opposition party by the party's governorship flag bearer in the state, Mr. Umana Umana, were said to be reconsidering their position as they were reportedly not satisfied with how the national executive had handled their grievances over the governorship primary, conducted on December 8.

According to the aide, the planned crossover to the APC is being facilitated by one of the APC governors in the South-South.

The source said, 'The APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has expressly requested to meet with the 22 aggrieved PDP aspirants from Akwa Ibom State. The move is being facilitated by an of the APC governors in the South-South.

The aggrieved aspirants, who are expected to dump the PDP for the APC, include former Akwa Ibom State Deputy governors, Obong Nsima Ekere and Patrick Otu; a senator representing Akwa Ibom South, Helen Esuene; former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia and Belarus, Assam Assam, SAN; former Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State, Ekpenyong Ntekim; former Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftain Affairs, Effiong Abia; Asukwo Okpo, Larry Esin' Prof. Richard King and Chris Abasi Eyo.

Others include Okpolump Ette, Aniedi Ufot, David Okpon, Dr. Samuel Udonsak, Jerome Isangedighi, Dr Peter Esu, Ita Udoh, Ime Ekanem, Micheal Etuk, Benjamin Okoko, Ime Akpanebe and Effiong Usin. Punch