"We Are Not Threatened By New PDP, APC Merger" - Presidency

The Presidency on Tuesday said that it was not
threatened by the merger of the splinter group of
the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the
opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political
Affairs, Ahmed Gulak, made this known when he
spoke with State House correspondents at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The PDP faction called 'New PDP', led by Abubakar
Baraje, and the APC announced the merger in a
communiqué on Tuesday. The communiqué was
signed by Mr. Baraje and the acting APC National
Chairman, Bisi Akande.
Mr. Gulak, who reacted to the development, said
neither the presidency nor the ruling party felt
threatened.
"The presidency does not feel threatened and the
PDP does not feel threatened."
"PDP is the party to beat. We have had it before
even people who had occupied higher offices left
the party and came back."
"Outside there, there is nothing, it is empty. PDP is
the only party,'' he said.
He added that the party and the presidency
welcomed the development because it would end
the distractions that had been going on.
"For a long time, I have said it that their hearts have
not been in PDP. It is good that they have told the
world that they have taken a stand so that PDP will
not be distracted."
"PDP as a party will be focused to build our party
because a lot of people are waiting for this
moment."
"A lot of people in the APC have contacted me
severally that they want to come back to PDP."
"They said they were just waiting for what
happened today to happen, and to us, it is a good
development,'' he said.
Mr. Gulak, however, said if the group decided to
return to the PDP fold, they would be welcomed
back.
"We are talking about peace, and reconciliation is
an ongoing process."
"If they go outside there like those that went there
before them and taste that the outside there is
empty they are always welcomed back home like
we did before,'' he said.
The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole of
APC, was also at the Presidential Villa shortly after
the announcement of the merger.
The governor, who did not spend up to 30 minutes
in the villa, declined to speak with journalists.
Cracks have already appeared in the merger as a
member of the New PDP and Governor of Niger,
Babangida Aliyu, has declared he remains a
member of the PDP and did not support the merger.