3 More Senators Dump APC For PDP, NNPP
BY VICTOR BUORO – The outcome of recent primaries held by political parties has continued to take its toll on the All Progressives Congress (APC) as three more Senators have officially resigned their membership in the ruling party.
The three lawmakers are Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), Lawal Gumau (Bauchi South), and Francis Alimikhena (Edo North).
In the last few weeks, the ruling party has lost at least five senators in the wave of defection with the Senate Majority Leader of the APC, Yahaya Abdullahi, and former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, both from Kebbi State, leading the way in joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Their notices of resignation and defection, contained in three separate letters, were read during plenary by the President of the Senate President on Tuesday with Kaita and Alimikhena defecting to the main opposition PDP, while Gumau, on his part, is joining forces with fast-rising New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
In his letter, Kaita said; “As a senator representing Katsina North Senatorial District, I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the APC and registration declaration for the PDP.”
According to him; “My resignation from the APC was borne out of the marginalisation of critical stakeholders by the State Government and Leadership of the Party in Katsina State, where small people like me do not have a chance. I have since been joyfully and graciously accepted into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State.”
For Senator Alimikhena, who lost the senatorial primaries to former APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, his decision to quit the APC was due to a “continuing and multifaceted crisis that has bedeviled the APC in his senatorial district.”
He further explained that; “This has created parallel executives that have undermined internal discipline, cohesion, and focus” within the party in the area.
A statement by the Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo said with the development, the total number of APC senators has now reduced from 70 to 67 in the upper legislative chamber.
