Four senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), increasing APC’s Senate seats from 66 to 70. The senators Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), Akon Samson (Akwa Ibom South), and Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East) were welcomed on the Senate floor with their defection letters read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a plenary session.
The Senate subsequently relaxed rules to allow high-profile APC members including National Secretary Ajibola Basiru and Chris Ngige to attend the session, signaling strong party solidarity. Following the defections, the Senate composition now stands at APC 70, PDP 28, with other parties making up the remainder.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the defections as a reflection of democratic principles in action, emphasizing that the APC’s focus is not just on numbers but on delivering good governance and advancing national development. Bamidele pledged that the APC would work diligently to maintain momentum and ensure commitment to the party’s ideals for Nigeria’s progress.
The defections further weaken the opposition PDP, which continues to face internal challenges contributing to the loss of key senators.
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