The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, experienced a significant shake-up in both chambers of the National Assembly on Wednesday as a total of seven of its members—four senators and three House of Representatives members—formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The defections occurred during separate plenary sessions in the Senate and the House, with lawmakers citing ongoing leadership crises within the PDP and a desire to align more closely with the development agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
In the Senate, the defectors included:
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Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South)
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Etim Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East)
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Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East)
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Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central)
To mark the occasion, the Senate temporarily suspended standard protocol, allowing several APC leaders—including the party’s National Secretary, Osun State APC Chairman, and former Minister Chris Ngige—to witness the event from inside the chamber.
These new defections bring the APC’s total seats in the Senate to 72, up from 50 at the time of the 10th Assembly’s inauguration in June 2023. The PDP’s count has now dropped to 26, reflecting broader instability within the opposition ranks.
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Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the development as “a reflection of democratic evolution,” adding, “We welcome our new colleagues and will continue working toward a united front for national progress.”
Over in the House of Representatives, three lawmakers also announced their move to the APC. These included:
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Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife Central/Ife East/Ife North, Osun)
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Emmanuel Olusanya (Atakunmosa West/Atakunmosa East/Ilesha East, Osun)
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Marcus Onobun (Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben, Edo)
During plenary, the lawmakers emphasized that internal disunity and poor leadership within the PDP were major factors behind their decision. They also stressed that aligning with President Tinubu would enable them to deliver “dividends of democracy” more effectively to their constituents.
“For us, it is about good governance,” said Ajilesoro, speaking on behalf of the defectors. “We believe joining the APC gives us a stronger platform to meet the aspirations of our people.”
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, acknowledged the defections, noting that the chamber “respects the constitutional rights of all lawmakers to associate freely.”
Sentiel News
