Three serving senators from Kebbi State, elected on the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, have formally written to the Senate, declaring their defection to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
They are Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), who formally defected from the PDP to the APC before their colleagues at the hallowed chamber.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, APC, Kano North, presided over the reading of their letters on Tuesday.
Shortly after the letters were read, the chamber became rowdy and noisy for over fifteen minutes.
With this move, the number of APC senators in the 10th National Assembly has increased to 65, strengthening the party’s majority in the upper chamber.
With their movement, the number of APC Senators in the 10th National Assembly will increase to 68, strengthening the party’s majority in the upper chamber.
There were loud chants as he was escorted to the majority wing of the Upper Chamber.
Following the defection, the updated Senate composition is as follows: APC 68, PDP 30, Labour Party 5, NNPP 2, SDP 2, and APGA 1.
Present at the chamber are the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, members of the National Working Committee, NWC, the Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris; Senator Uche Ekwunife, among others.
In his remarks, the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central, who described the development as the beauty of democracy, said that the ruling party’s doors are open for others to come in.
He dismissed insinuations that Nigeria is moving into a one-party state, saying that no one is coerced into joining the party, as the three Senators cannot be coerced.
Also, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, described their return to the party as their homecoming as foundation members of the APC.
