Three senators from Adamawa and Zamfara states have formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), further boosting the APC’s majority in the Senate.
The lawmakers are Amos Yohanna, Aminu Iya Abbas and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis.
Their defection letters were read during plenary by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
In their letters, the senators cited ongoing internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their respective states as the main reason for their decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following the latest defections, the number of APC senators has increased to 83, while the PDP now holds 19 seats. Other parties represented in the Senate include the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with one seat, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with one, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with four, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with one. The Labour Party currently has no senator in the chamber.
Reacting to the development, Akpabio described the wave of defections as an indication that the country is heading in a positive direction.
“This development shows that Nigeria is moving in the right direction,” Akpabio said during plenary.
He recalled that during the 8th National Assembly, the APC lost 34 senators to the PDP, noting that the trend has now reversed.
“The PDP has emptied itself into the ruling party,” he said, adding that he agreed with the Senate Leader that the shift suggests that “something must be right somewhere.”
The Senate President also attributed the development to the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the harmonisation of foreign exchange rates, the removal of fuel subsidy and measures aimed at improving fiscal management.
“These reforms are helping states reduce their reliance on borrowing and are placing the country on a trajectory of economic growth,” Akpabio added.