A wave of defection has hit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with at least five senators quitting the party in the last few weeks.
Recall that the Senate Majority Leader of the APC, Yahaya Abdullahi and another APC Senator, Adamu Aliero, both from Kebbi State, recently defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
At the plenary today, another three APC senators also resigned their membership of the ruling party.
The lawmakers are Senators Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), Lawal Yahaya Gumau (Bauchi South), and Francis Alimikhena (Edo North).
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Whilst Babba Kaita and Alimikhena defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Gumau, on the other hand, defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
The notice of their resignation and defection was contained in three separate letters read during plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday.
Babba Kaita’s letter read, “As Senator representing Katsina North Senatorial District, I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and registration declaration for the Peoples Democratic Party.
“My resignation from the APC was born out of the marginalisation of critical stakeholders by the State Government and Leadership of the Party in Katsina State, where small people like me do not have a chance.
“I have since been joyful and graciously accepted into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State.”
On his part, Senator Alimikhena explained that his decision to resign from the APC as a result of a “continuing and multifaceted crisis that has bedevilled the APC”, especially in his Senatorial District, “that has created parallel executives that have undermined internal discipline, cohesion and focus.”
The defection by the three lawmakers reduces the total number of APC Senators from 70 to 67 in the upper chamber, according to a statement by the Special Assistant (Press) to the President of the Senate, Dr Ezrel Tabiowo.