A major political shake-up is looming in the Senate of Nigeria, as 22 senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are reportedly plotting to defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This was revealed by a credible senator from the Northwest, who spoke to Daily Sun on condition of anonymity.
According to the source, the defecting senators are unhappy with the outcome of the election for the 10th Senate President, which saw Senator Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State emerge victorious over Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara State. Akpabio secured 63 votes against Yari’s 46 in a secret ballot held on June 13, 2023.
The source said that the aggrieved senators, who are loyal to Yari, have held several meetings in Abuja and London to finalize their decision to join the PDP. They have also agreed to cede the position of Senate President to one of their own upon defecting to the PDP. The PDP senators would then take over the roles of Majority Leader, Chief Whip, and Deputy Chief Whip.
The source added that the potential defectors cut across the six geopolitical zones of the country and are waiting for the distribution of principal offices and committee chairmanship positions, as well as the outcomes of their court cases challenging the election of Akpabio, before making their move.
If the defection happens, it would alter the balance of power in the Senate and give the PDP a majority control over the upper chamber.
Currently, the APC has 59 senators out of 109, while the PDP has 36. The remaining seats are shared by other parties. However, if 22 APC senators defect to the PDP, it would increase the PDP’s seats to 58 and reduce the APC’s to 37.
This would be a huge blow to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which relies on the support of the APC-dominated National Assembly to pass its policies and bills. It would also boost the chances of the PDP in challenging Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The defection plan has been kept secret from most APC senators and party leaders, who are unaware of the looming crisis in their ranks. The source said that only a few trusted allies of Yari are privy to the plot and are working behind the scenes to ensure its success.
The source also said that some of the defecting senators have already reached out to some PDP governors and leaders to secure their support and acceptance into their new party. He said that some PDP governors have promised to fund their campaigns and provide them with security and logistics.
The source expressed confidence that the defection plan would succeed and change the political landscape of Nigeria. He said that Yari and his supporters are determined to reclaim their mandate and restore dignity and respect to the Senate.
He said: “We are not happy with what happened at the Senate election. It was a clear case of manipulation and injustice.
“We were robbed of our victory and we will not accept it. We have decided to leave APC and join PDP, where we believe we will be treated fairly and democratically.
“We have already made our arrangements and we are ready to go anytime soon. We are not afraid of any consequences or backlash from APC or Tinubu. We are doing this for our people and for our country.”
