Yahaya Bello confirms Fani-Kayode’s defection to APC

Yahaya Bello, Kogi State Governor, has confirmed the defection of the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, to the All Progressives Congress, TopNaija reports.

On Monday, Fani-Kayode had a closed door meeting with the National Chairman of the APC, Governor Mai Buni of Yobe State, and Governor Bello.

Pictures from the meeting had sparked the speculation that Fani-Kayode, who is known to be a member of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, was on the verge of defecting to the ruling APC which he’s an ardent critic of.

The speculation has been confirmed to be true by Bello while addressing a crowd of APC supporters as seen in a video on social media.

He said, “Our brother and friend, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has joined our party in good faith. He’s joining our party to add his own positive energy and make contribution into ensuring that APC is a party to beat.”

“Remember that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode was a foundation member of this great party. Due to misunderstanding, he decided to port elsewhere, now he has decided to join our party, approached me, and by the mandate given to me by the party, I must not segregate or discriminate against any individual.”

Fani-Kayode, in a statement issued, said he will never jettison his fundamental principles nor change his views despite his meeting with the APC leaders. He also said that he’s holding talks with the leaders of other political parties asides the ruling APC.

The statement read in part, “It is right and proper for us to talk and to attempt to join hands across political, religious and regional lines to save Nigeria. I can and will never compromise or jettison my core fundamental principles for any reason and I stand firmly on my honestly held opinion that we need to enthrone equity, justice and fairness in this country for it to survive.

“I also believe in restructuring the country and in a vigorous and effective fight against terrorism. The fact that I am in talks with leaders from a cross-section of pol. parties, including the ruling party, does not in any way derogate from this and does not mean that I will ever change those views.”