Former Bayelsa senator Ben Murray-Bruce has spoken on the reasons behind the defection of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and five other governors from the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
In a viral video, Murray-Bruce blamed the crisis on poor decisions and misguided counsel allegedly given to former President Goodluck Jonathan by some of his aides.
He said those within Jonathan’s inner circle ignored several warnings about growing discontent among key PDP governors at the time.
According to him, some presidential aides failed to act swiftly despite clear signs that influential party members were unhappy and considering leaving the party.
Reflecting on the situation, Murray-Bruce criticized the advisers, describing them as incompetent and unconcerned about the people they served.
“As I sit here and think about my experience with people who were so incompetent and unconcerned about the people they served, giving silly advice to the Commander-in-Chief, I am amazed. I can’t get over it,” he said.
BACKSTORY…
The 2015 defection of Rotimi Amaechi and five other governors marked one of the biggest political shake-ups in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Their exit from the Peoples Democratic Party followed months of internal disputes, power struggles, and growing dissatisfaction with the leadership of then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
The crisis centered on issues such as party control, succession politics, and allegations that some influential members were being sidelined. Their defection to the All Progressives Congress significantly weakened the PDP and strengthened the opposition ahead of the 2015 presidential election, which Jonathan eventually lost to Muhammadu Buhari.
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