Another trio of Senators defect from PDP to join APC ranks

The All Progressives Congress is reveling in the turmoil that has engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party, as three Senators have recently defected from the PDP to the APC ahead of the 2027 Presidential and general elections.

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These Senators, namely Amos Yunana from Adamawa North, Aminu Iya Abbas from Adamawa Central, and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis from Zamfara Central, submitted their letters to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

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Their decision to switch parties comes on the heels of Senator Banigo Ipalibo's defection from the PDP to the APC on Tuesday, which reduced the PDP's Senate membership from 17 to 14 and increased the APC's representation from 81 to 84.

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Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, expressed his delight at the new developments, describing the current wave of defections as unprecedented since Nigeria gained independence in 1960.

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He noted that this trend is a reversal of the 2018 scenario, when the APC lost many Senators to the PDP, including the then-President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, with about 30 Senators defecting in a single day.

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According to Senator Akpabio, the current situation is a "1-1 draw" between the PDP and APC, with PDP Senators now defecting to the APC in large numbers due to the good governance and bold decisions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has rescued the nation's economy from bankruptcy.

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Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the leader of the Senate, observed that the continuous defection of Senators from the PDP and other minority parties to the APC is a clear indication that the Nigeria project is working under President Tinubu's leadership.

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Senator Bamidele stated that the defectors are not naive and have recognized that something positive is happening in the country, which is why they want to be part of the APC caucus.

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The current configuration of Senators by party is as follows: APC 84, up from 59; PDP 14, down from 36; Labour Party 0, down from 8; NNPP 1, down from 2; SDP 0, down from 2; and APGA 1.

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The African Democratic Congress, which had no Senators at the start of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023, now has 5 Senators, while the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress has 1 Senator, Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West.

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The total number of serving Senators is now 106, short of the constitutional 109, with three seats remaining vacant due to the deaths of Senators Godiya Akwashiki, Okechukwu Ezea, and Barinada Mpigi, representing Nasarawa North, Enugu North, and Rivers South East, respectively.