“We did our best to reconcile with PDP which the PDP leadership under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur frustrated, so we have no other option than to formally announce the death and burial of PDP.”

That was the National Publicity Secretary of the New Peoples Democratic Party (New PDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, speaking with News Express minutes ago after the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced its merger with the party.

The merger was announced at about 11.46 this morning via a communiqué which New PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, read to newsmen at the end of a meeting at the Kano Governors Lodge in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

The announcement is believed to have been so timed as to pre-empt the PDP leadership which is expected to expel principal leaders of New PDP this week. Baraje, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Sam Sam Jaja and Ibrahim Kazaure were summoned to appear before PDP’s Disciplinary Committee today but vowed not to do so.

Ahead of this morning’s meeting with APC leaders, the G-7 governors had met last night at the same Kano State Governor’s Lodge till about 12.30 this morning, at which they decided to make the switch to APC. The G7 Governors are Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

The merger gives APC 18 while PDP’s shrinks to 16, with All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party having one governor each.

•Photo shows the G& Governors, now part of APC.