Four PDP Senators Join APC, Citing Irreconcilable Party Differences

By Iyojo Ameh

Four Senators elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing their decision to unresolved internal crises within the PDP.

The announcement was made during Wednesday’s plenary session, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio read individual letters submitted by the defecting lawmakers. In their correspondence, the Senators pointed to “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their departure from the opposition party.

Akpabio subsequently instructed that the letters be documented in the official records by the Clerk of the Senate.

The defecting lawmakers include Senators Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South).

Their exit has further altered the makeup of the 10th Senate. The APC now holds 70 seats, while the PDP’s representation has dropped to 28. Other parties in the chamber include the Labour Party with 5 seats, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with 1, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with 2, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with 1.

Notable figures present to witness the defections included APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, as well as several members of the House of Representatives, who attended in solidarity.