Four Senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), further weakening the opposition’s grip in the Senate.
The defectors Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South), submitted their resignation letters from the PDP during plenary.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the letters aloud and instructed the Clerk of the Senate to formally record the changes.
In his resignation letter, Senator Aniekan Bassey invoked Sections 40 and 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, stating: “This decision has become imperative in view of the prevailing political developments both in my constituency and within the party structure, which has been fractured beyond redemption.” He acknowledged the PDP “for the platform it provided,” but emphasized that his move was in the “overall interest” of his constituents in Akwa Ibom North East.
Reacting to the development, Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Bassey with characteristic flair, declaring: “Senator Anieka Abbasi has now joined the APC. I welcome him with open arms. He has depleted the rank and file of the left-hand side to populate the right-hand side.”
Senator Samson Ekong also defended his defection, linking it to political realignments in his home state. “Politics is a game of interest, and if I may add, circumstances,” he said. “In Akwa Ibom State, the earth has moved with the convergence of principal political players on the APC platform. My people have high hopes for commensurate reward systems from the APC power matrix.”
Ekong further noted the defection of Akwa Ibom Governor Pastor Umoh Eno to the APC as a pivotal factor, along with what he described as “the mass alignment of political stakeholders in the state with the ruling party.”
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, in his remarks, applauded the new members of the APC, stating: “I sincerely welcome our colleagues to the All Progressives Congress. This cannot be the end, more are coming.”
With this development, the composition of the 10th Senate now stands at: APC 70, PDP 28, Labour Party 5, Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 1, and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 1.
The switch was witnessed by top APC figures, including the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, former Minister of Labour and Productivity Senator Chris Ngige, and several members of the House of Representatives who attended in support. The move is seen as a major political realignment, especially in Akwa Ibom State, long regarded as a PDP stronghold.