The national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to receive more than 10,000 members of various political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the party has said.

The APC disclosed this in a statement signed by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Information Strategy, following a courtesy visit by executive members of the Maji Johnson Bello (MJB) Movement to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the planned defection is being organised under the auspices of the MJB Movement, with the formal ceremony expected to take place soon.

The visit, it said, was part of consultations and preparations for the formal defection of thousands of members of the movement from different political platforms into the APC.

Receiving the delegation on behalf of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, his Personal Private Secretary, Comrade Jibrin Bancir, described the development as significant and an indication of growing confidence in the ruling party and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Bancir said the APC was encouraged by the organisational capacity, grassroots reach and political network which the MJB Movement was bringing into the party.

He assured the incoming members that mechanisms would be put in place to ensure their seamless integration into the various structures of the APC.

“We are delighted by the huge capacity that the MJB Movement is bringing to the table. The APC is ready to receive and integrate all of you into the structures of the party.

“We will work out the necessary procedures to ensure that everybody has a place to operate and contribute meaningfully at the local level,” he said.

Bancir also stressed the importance of grassroots participation, saying the incoming members would be properly registered and integrated into the party beginning from the ward level.

“Politics is local. We will ensure that everybody knows you in your local government as bona fide members of the APC.

“We want you to become part and parcel of the party at the ward, local government, state and national levels. Your contribution will be valued, and your political capacity will be put to good use,” he added.

He urged the leadership of the MJB Movement to sustain its mobilisation efforts, assuring them of the APC leadership’s institutional support for a smooth transition and integration of the new members.

Earlier, Bello said the movement’s decision to join the APC was informed by its assessment of the economic reforms being implemented by President Tinubu.

He said members of the movement had carefully considered the direction of the country and concluded that the President’s reform agenda deserved the support of Nigerians seeking a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Bello said the movement was not joining the APC merely for political convenience but had deliberately chosen to identify with what it described as the administration’s efforts to reposition the Nigerian economy and lay the foundation for sustainable development. (Nigerian Tribune)