Two senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers, who are from Rivers State, are Alwell Onyesoh, representing Rivers East Senatorial District, and Mpigi Barinada, representing Rivers South-east Senatorial District.
The duo announced their defections in separate letters addressed to the Senate, which were read during Tuesday’s plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Both senators referenced the prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP, characterised by unresolved litigations and deep internal divisions, as the major reason for their decision to leave the party.
The defections come barely three weeks after the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, defected to the APC during a meeting with government officials at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Governor Fubara’s defection followed a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The governor said his decision to join the APC was to enable him to offer full support to the Tinubu’ administration.
Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, had been locked in a prolonged political crisis over the control of the state’s political structure. The feud split the Rivers State House of Assembly into two factions, with 27 lawmakers loyal to Mr Wike and four aligned with the governor.
Reasons for leaving PDP
Explaining his decision to defect to APC, Mr Onyesoh said joining the ruling party would allow him to align with the federal government to attract development and deliver good governance to his constituents.
“Recent events have revealed the importance of aligning with the centre and the political will to transform the fortunes of my people with structures that can facilitate good governance,” he said.
Mr Barinada, on his part, said he was no longer comfortable remaining in the PDP due to the party’s prolonged leadership crisis.
He, however, thanked the PDPleadership for providing him with the platform to be elected to the Senate.
After reading the letters, Mr Akpabio directed the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and other APC senators to formally welcome the defectors.
Mr Bamidele congratulated Messrs Onyesoh and Barinada on their decision to join the ruling party.
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The senators later exchanged pleasantries with APC lawmakers and were escorted to their new seats in the majority section of the chamber.
They also took photographs with the APC national leadership, including the party’s National Secretary, Surajudeen Bashiru, and other personalities in the APC who accompanied them to the National Assembly.
With the latest defections, the APC has further strengthened its numbers in the Senate, while the PDP and other opposition parties continue to be disadvantaged.
