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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday suffered another major setback as one of its notable young leaders, Hon. Stephen Abraham Ajiya, formally announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Ajiya, a former aspirant for the position of PDP Vice Chairman, North Central, declared that his exit from the opposition party was inevitable, citing what he described as “bad and threatening experiences” and a lack of genuine democratic practices within the PDP.

“It is with this sense of patriotism that I, Honourable Abraham Stephen Ajiya, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), am officially announcing the end to my membership of PDP and declaring for the APC in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” he began.

The youthful politician lamented that his journey with the PDP had not been cordial or promising for an “upcoming politician with fresh ideas,” stressing that his ordeal within the party exposed a culture of imposition, manipulation, and disregard for due process.

Recalling his experience during the PDP Zonal Congress in Jos, Plateau State, Ajiya said the process was predetermined by party leaders to favor certain candidates.

“Recall that yours sincerely contested for the PDP Vice-chairman, North Central micro zones, in the FCT. The outcome of the election at Jos, the host city, was short of the practice of democracy as the election was predetermined by party leadership before the main election,” he said.

He further narrated how he resisted pressure from party caucus members to step down for a candidate he described as “unqualified,” only to be sidelined in a controversial process where even the appeal panel was inaccessible.

“The event further turned into a mere formality when the Party Caucus and other leaders pressured me to step down for an unqualified candidate, which I refused. Afterwards, I sought the intervention of the appeal panel, but I never saw their meeting venue. I was later informed that the panel sat immediately after the election, the same day, and gave their verdict the same day. A practice which is unheard of,” he added.

According to Ajiya, these experiences led him to conclude that “struggling with a non-committal political party like the PDP is a waste of time, energy, and resources.”

He said his defection was also motivated by the ongoing infrastructural and developmental strides being championed in the FCT under the APC-led government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, and AMAC Chairman Christopher Maikalangu.

“As an indigene of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, the ongoing good works being executed by the Hon. Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike, and my own brother Christopher Maikalangu the current Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), is a testament to the vision of a political party committed to ensuring the people benefit from the dividend of democracy proclaimed by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration,” he said.

Declaring his full commitment to the APC, Ajiya applauded the policies and reforms of the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, the introduction of a new tax regime, ongoing electoral reforms, and the constitutional review process.

“The ruling APC, we have seen, has assured the removal of fuel subsidy. It has also assured that the country has a new tax regime, the transformation of the nation’s Capital, as well as the ongoing electoral reforms and review of the constitution for a greater Nigeria. President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has shown that he is a fearless, great politician, who has the political will to stand on his promises without fear or favor,” Ajiya declared.

He described his new political journey as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development of the FCT and Nigeria at large under the APC’s platform.

In his closing remarks, the former PDP chieftain reaffirmed his loyalty to the ruling party and urged Nigerians to unite behind the APC-led government.

“Today, I can announce to you that the PDP’s ghetto politics has left me with no choice. And I have become a member of the APC, with a vision to make meaningful contributions and add value to the good works the APC leadership is bringing to my people,” he said.

He ended with a patriotic note:
“Long live the APC, long live the FCT, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

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