Sources within the party told newsmen that Mr. Atiku as well as Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, and the publisher of Leadership newspaper, Sam Nda Isiah, signed a letter demanding the relocation of the convention site. A source close to the petitioners told SaharaReporters that Mr. Atiku and others were afraid that they could be completely overwhelmed by forces loyal to General Muhammad Buhari (rtd) in Lagos.
One source said the party leadership was torn on what to do next. “Benin is a possible venue, but Benin does not have the facility and security capability to take care of the huge crowd expected at the convention,” a party official told SaharaReporters.
Meanwhile, senators are reportedly set to defect to the APC. They are Senator Saminu Turaki of Jigawa and Senator Atiku Bagudu. The two senators are yet to make their party switch official, but a top APC source said the two lawmakers had been meeting with the party.