ATIKU, 9 PDP GOVERNORS FLOAT NEW PARTY, APPLY FOR REGISTRATION

Baring any last minute hitch, a new political party will berth in the already charged Nigerian political turf this week, Daily Independent reports. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed on Wednesday that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some Governors of the crisis-ridden ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have applied for the registration of a group, Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM), as a political party. According to the paper, Kayodu Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, confirmed this latest twist to their correspondent on phone. The Governors who are promoting the new political association are Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State. The five Governors have been in the vanguard of dissent within the mainstream PDP. They have been moving round the country to “consult” with past leaders to “save the country’s nascent democracy.” Beside the five, there are also indications that Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Governor of Taraba may have decided to stake their political lot with the yet to be registered party.