Senator Hassan Ahmed Barata
Abstract: The APC Caucus in the Senate says with Mr. Barata’s defection and many more to come, the PDP is in the throes of death.

The lawmaker representing Adamawa South in the Senate, Hassan Ahmed Barata, has defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] to the opposition All Progressives Congress [APC].

The spokesperson for APC senators, Babafemi Ojudu, said in a statement Friday morning that Senator Barata decided to dump the PDP to enable him to “team up with other progressive democrats in the huge task of repositioning Nigeria”.

Mr. Ojudu quoted Mr. Barata as describing the APC as “an answer to Nigerians’ prayers for a veritable alternative that would collectively harness the potentials of Nigerians to re-direct the ship of state from the path of retrogression to progress and for the realization of individual dreams of progress and sense of belonging in their fatherland”.

“Senator Hassan Ahmed Barata, who currently represents the good people of Adamawa South, is an astute grassroots politician with immense experience and strength of character,” Mr. Ojudu said.

He added, “He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007 and is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism where his brilliance, understanding of topical issues, ability to inspire and motivate his colleagues and foster harmony in the line of duty have marked him out as a detribalised Nigerian driven by patriotism to the country.

“With this recent defection and many more to come, the march to victory is certain and it only confirms that the PDP is in the throes of death.”