The All Progressives Congress has consolidated its dominance in the Senate following the defection of two senators from Rivers State who were previously members of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Senators Barinada Mpigi and Onyesoh Alwell formally announced their switch to the APC on Monday, blaming deep internal divisions within the PDP, especially at the national level. Their decisions were communicated through separate letters read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The defections reduced the PDP’s strength in the Senate from 26 to 24 lawmakers, while the APC’s numbers increased from 76 to 78.
Both senators were received by the APC Senate caucus, led by Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, alongside senior party officials, including the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
Speaking on the development, Bamidele stressed that the senators joined the ruling party willingly, dismissing claims of pressure or inducement.
“Our democracy is growing. APC is exercising its constitutional obligation to open its doors to all. Nobody is joining APC under any form of coercion,” he said.
Senate President Akpabio, while acknowledging the defections, cautioned the APC leadership to strengthen internal democracy to avoid the kind of crises that have weakened opposition parties such as the PDP.
Following the latest realignment, the composition of the Senate now stands at 78 APC senators, 24 PDP senators, four Labour Party senators, two APGA senators, one NNPP senator and one SDP senator, completing the full chamber of 109 lawmakers.
