The much-anticipated defection of senators on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) finally happened on Wednesday, as 11 of an expected 18 senators moved from their original party.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, announced the defection of the 11 Senators in a press statement.
In his words, Eleven Senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party this morning defected to the All Progressives Congress.
“A formal letter to this effect has been delivered to Senate President David Mark and is expected to be read on the floor of the Senate this afternoon.
“This is only the first installment of many other Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party expected to defect to the All Progressives Congress soon.”
However, no reference was made to the letter by the Senate President or Senators alleged to have defected, during Wednesday`s plenary session.
The content of the alleged letter of defection, obtained by huhuonline.com, read,
“We, the undersigned Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party wish to notify you that we have severally and jointly joined the All Progressives Congress.
“This action and decision is as a result of the division and factionalisation in the PDP that sponsored our elections into the Senate.
“In view of the above, we write to inform you that following the division and factionalisation in the PDP, we have formally joined the APC.
“This communication is pursuant to Section 68 (1g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. “For your information, guidance and record purposes”.
The full list of the senators is below:
1. Bukola Sarak i- Kwara Central
2. Umaru Dahiru – Sokoto South
3. Magnus Ngei Abe – Rivers South-East
4.Wilson Asinobi Ake – Rivers West
5.Bindawa Muhammed Jibrilla – Adamawa North
6. Mohammed Danjuma Goje- Gombe central
7.Aisha Jummai Alhassan- Taraba North
8. Mohammed Ali Ndume – Borno South
9. Mohammed Shaba Lafiaji- Kwara North
10.Abdulahi Adamu- Nasarawa West
11. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir- Sokoto East.
