Niger PDP, APC disagree over number of defectors

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

The Peoples Democratic Party PDP have challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress over claimed of 34,000 members of its party defected to the APC at “Unity Rally” held last weekend saying the crowd at the venue was not up to the figure as claimed..
The State Chairman of the party Barrister Tanko Beji disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Minna, said the APC also went about “recycling defectors” to show that they had gained more members into the party.
“I don’t believe 34,000 people defected that day, you couldn’t have had 34,000 at that Trade Fair Complex, the crowd there was not more than 10,000, some of them were even rented”
On the former deputy chairman Beji said “we expected this to happen, he was discovered to be a mole that is why we suspended him from our party before now.
“We did a house clearing we saw him as a mole he was more of a liability than asset
“Anybody who stands for nothing can fall for anything” Tanko Beji declared adding that some of those that defected “ have no principles, they are in politics because of what they can get they cannot withstand the heat”.
Beji however declared that the state working committee of the party was intact contrary to the claim by the APC said “ our party is intact our party is waxing stronger and stronger”.
The PDP chieftain said that the party always set the pace but was denied permit to hold its zonal rally slated for Paiko which was earlier scheduled for Sarkin Pawa due to insecurity but they are partnering with security to ensure its reality and the APC will see the supporters of the party.
He stressed that party politics is not do or die but needed a committed few rather than 100 moles noted that those that left is a blessing to the PDP hence ‘those who not stand for anything will fall for everything’ defectors have no principle guiding them.