The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the defection of three more lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The senators are Amos Yohanna, who represents Adamawa North Senatorial District; Aminu Iya Abbas of Adamawa Central Senatorial District; and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis of Zamfara Central Senatorial District. Their letters of defection were read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The lawmakers attributed their decision to ongoing internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party in their respective states.
With the latest defections, the number of senators in the All Progressives Congress has risen to 83, while the PDP’s representation in the Senate has dropped to 19.
Other parties currently represented in the chamber include the New Nigeria Peoples Party with one senator, the Social Democratic Party with one senator, the African Democratic Congress with four senators, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance with one senator. The Labour Party currently has no representation in the Senate.
Reacting to the development, Akpabio said the wave of defections indicates that the country is moving in the right direction. He noted that during the 8th National Assembly, the APC lost 34 lawmakers to the PDP, but said the trend has now reversed.
According to him, the defections reflect increasing confidence in the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Akpabio also linked the development to the administration’s economic reforms, including the unification of foreign exchange rates, the removal of fuel subsidies and other fiscal measures aimed at strengthening the country’s economic management.
He added that the reforms have reduced the reliance of state governments on borrowing while positioning Nigeria on a path toward stronger economic growth.
