In a confusing political twist of events, Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, who was speculated to have concluded plans to defect from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a series of meetings with top figures of the ruling party, including President Tinubu, has said that he remains a member of his party.

“I still remain a member of NDC and I have not yet made any plans of Decamping out”, Senator Hanga said while speaking on a local radio programme in Kano on Tuesday.

He, however, openly stated that his party, the NDC, would not win the presidency because it lacked the acceptance and strength needed to defeat the ruling APC.

“NDC will lose Nigeria, they can’t make any impact but I’m certain they will win Kano, this I know, and as for me I still remain a member of my Party,” he said.

Senator Hanga, who has spoken on several issues relating to his relationship with Kwankwaso, explained that they still respect each other.

Speaking on how the NDC gubernatorial candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and his running mate, Mustapha Kwankwaso, emerged, he noted that “Kwankwaso sent an emissary to me through the NDC Chairman Hussaini Isa Mairiga that he was considering anointing his son, Mustapha, for governorship seat”.

He added, “I bade them farewell and also told him he (Mairiga) to tell Kwankwaso that I was ready to be his son’s campaign manager. Since then, I did not hear anything from them”.

Continuing, Hanga said, “after a few days, Aminu Abdussalam met me in Abuja and told me that Kwankwaso had made him gubernatorial candidate of the party and asked if I was ready to be his deputy. Although, I knew it was a demotion, I accepted but then I just heard that he (Kwankwaso) has made his son, Mustapha, the governor’s running mate”.

Accord has reacted to the Court of Appeal judgment that nullified the Federal High Court Abuja judgement which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to de-register the party and four others.

The party said the judgement was a calculated attempt to undermine the nation’s jurisprudence and participatory democracy in the first place.

Accord said that the appellate court verdict is a victory for democracy, rule of law and due process, adding that the court has restored sanity in the ongoing electoral process and justified the confidence Nigerians reposed in the Judiciary as the temple of justice and last hope of all aggrieved citizens.

“The Court of Appeal ruling is indeed a sweet music in the ears of all lovers of representative governance in Nigeria. It is also a powerful signal that anti-democratic and reactionary forces will be defeated if citizens stand up for their rights to democratic participation,” the party said in a statement signed by Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, it’s National Chairman.

Accord added that it “is aware that the intention of this frivolous, spurious and defective suit was to distract, prevent and stop the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke from participating in the August 15 gubernatorial election in the state.

“The way this grand judicial plot failed, is the way the opposition in Osun State will also fail, as the party will again emerge victorious in the polls.

“It is a fact that our great party met all the requirements for its registration and won elections which were duly presented in court and ought not to have been included in this disgusting suit by the so-called former legislators, a group of interlopers that lack the locu standi to institute it.”

Accord said it “welcomes this landmark judgement of the Court of Appeal, and appreciates Nigerians who set aside political differences and strongly condemned the judicial recklessness of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Peter Lifu. It is patriotism redefined and democracy at its finest.

“There is no doubt that the Accord’s growing national acceptance is a threat to unpatriotic elements in the society, particularly in Osun State, the party’s stronghold.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has said it did not force the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, out of the Labour Party and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, respectively.

Speaking during an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television on Tuesday, the National Chairman of the party, Nentawe Yilwatda, denied allegations that the ruling party is responsible for the internal crises and defections rocking opposition parties.

Yilwatda said the APC neither forced Obi out of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, nor compelled him to leave the Labour Party or join any other political platform.

“Nobody in APC chased Peter Obi out of PDP. Nobody from APC chased him out of the Labour Party; nobody in APC chased him out of the Labour Party to ADC. Who chased him from ADC again to the NDC,” he asked.

According to him, the former Anambra state governor had been changing political parties long before the APC assumed power at the federal level.

He also denied claims that recent defections from the APC reflected declining support for the party, arguing that many politicians who left were motivated by the desire to secure electoral tickets rather than ideological differences.

The APC National Chairman stressed that the APC remained united and attractive to Nigerians, adding that one year after assuming office as national chairman, the party had fulfilled key promises aimed at strengthening its internal structure and expanding its appeal.