BEVERLY HILLS, February 3, (THEWILL) – With the general elections just months away, a fresh crisis is rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, with the departures of Professor Jerry Gana, Professor Tunde Adeniran and Elder Godsday Orubebe, all former federal Ministers under the party when it held power from 1999 – 2015.
They are now with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which is merging with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Salvation Party (PSP) and former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), popularly referred to as the “Third Force.”
The SDP’s merger talks with Obasanjo’s CMN confirms THEWILL’s exclusive report which named the SDP as the “Third Force” that Obasanjo and his allies plan to use to dislodge President Muhammadu Buhari in the general poll next year.
Others that left the PDP for the SDP include former Military Administrator of Katsina State, Sen. Joseph Akaagerger; a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe; Chief Mike Oghiadhome, who was a former Chief of Staff to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; ex-Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State; and ex-Minister of Defence, Dr. Olu Agunloye and a former Deputy Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Dare Emiola.
Also joining the SDP are former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Junaid Mohammed; Senator Bassey Ewa Hensaw; a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olamide Oni; Supo Shonibare (South-West Zonal chairman of SDP), Hon. Dipo Olaitan (a former leader of the Alliance for Democracy in the House of Representatives); a former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Kehinde Ayoola; Amb. Yemi Farounbi; leaders of the Middle Belt Forum; Mr. John Dara; the leaders of the National Intervention Forum led by Dr. Tafawa Balewa; Amb Bejide and Shehu Gabam.
Chief Olu Falae is the leader of the SDP.
The aggrieved leaders entered into a lengthy meeting with the leadership of the SPD for a merger and signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Ladi Kwali Hall in Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
The Mou was jointly signed by Falae (for SDP) and Prof. Gana (for Movement for a New Political Order).
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