Not less than 15 senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Tuesday, defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Up till now, the deputy Senate President is still under house arrest and absent from the plenary.
The senators in a joint letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made their intention known.
The letter reads:
Dear Senate President,
After due consultation, with our constituents and stakeholders in our constituency, in proper recognition section 16 (1G) of the 1999 constitution, and for the fact of our party, The All Progressives Congress, we hereby inform the Senate that we the undersigned;
Senators:
Dino Melaye
Barnabas Gemade
Ibrahim Danbaba
Shaaba Lafiaji
Mohammed Shitu
Rafiu Ibrahim
Suleiman Hunkuyi
Isa Misau
Monsurat Sunmonu
Soji Akanbi
Usman Nafada
Musa Kwankwaso
Suleiman Nazif
Lanre Tejuosho
They defectors cited that APC was being fictionalised, hence, they would not continue to pursue their political careers under the ruling party.
However, the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawal opposed the defection, saying the action of the affected lawmakers should be quarantined while the letter written by the defected lawmakers should be stood down.
Many other Senators including Saraki himself are being expected to announce their defections in days ahead.
With this development, the balance of power in the Senate has tilted in favour of PDP which now about 59 Senators to APC’s 50.
