UPDATED: Three PDP senators defect to APC

Three senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three senators are all from Kebbi State. They are Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District, Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North Senatorial District, and Garba Maidoki, representing Kebbi South Senatorial District.

The trio announced their defections in separate letters addressed to the Senate and read during Tuesday’s plenary by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session.

Each of the lawmakers cited the leadership crisis in the PDP, characterised by unresolved litigations and deep internal divisions, as the main reason for their decision to switch parties.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times

Add as a preferred source on Google

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the three senators met with President Bola Tinubu behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday. They were accompanied by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

Although the purpose of the meeting was not publicly disclosed at the time, it has now been confirmed that it centred on finalising their plans to join the APC.

During the formal defection in the Senate chamber, several top APC members, including Messrs Ganduje and Idris, and the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Tanko Yusuf, were present to welcome the lawmakers.

Mr Aliero served as governor of Kebbi State from 1999 to 2007. He was elected to the Senate in 2007 but was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by late former President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2008, serving until 2010. Mr Aliero returned to the Senate in 2015 and has remained a central figure since.

Mr Abdullahi has been in the Senate since 2015. He was a former Senate Majority Leader during Ahmad Lawan’s tenure as Senate President. He left the APC in June 2022 because of the party’s internal crisis in his state

Mr Maidoki, the most recent entrant, was elected in 2023. Despite being a first-time senator, he has gained attention for his public criticism of the federal government’s policies and his advocacy for northern interests. His public criticism of the Tinubu administration’s policies are expected to reduce now that he is a member of the ruling party.

Tuesday’s defection by the three senators is the second defection to the APC since the Senate resumed from the Easter and Eid-el-Fitr recess. Just a week earlier, Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the APC, also claiming an unresolved party leadership crisis, which has led to litigations and internal divisions.

Senate Majority Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi — *Yahaya Abdullahi*

With the latest defections, the APC now holds 68 seats in the 109-member Senate, consolidating its majority. The PDP now has 30 seats.

The Labour Party has five, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has two, and both the NNPP and APGA hold one seat each.

However, the Senate currently has 107 sitting members since the death of former Anambra South Senator Ifeanyi Ubah last July and the departure of Monday Okpebholo, who vacated the Edo Central seat after being elected Governor of Edo State last September.

Reasons for leaving PDP

In his letter, Mr Aliero noted that his major reason for his defection was the internal crisis in the opposition PDP.

He said the PDP had lost direction and could no longer meet the expectations of Nigerians.

“This decision was not made lightly. Being a proud member of the PDP, a party under the platform I was elected to serve. However, politics must never be about personal loyalty to a platform. It must always be about service, solutions and results. Today, I made this move in response to a simple question that every responsible leader must ask himself or herself: what is best for the people I serve?

“Over the past months, it has become increasingly and manifestly clear to me that the PDP, as it currently stands, has become disconnected from the aspirations of the very Nigerians it seeks to lead. Internal divisions, lack of ideological clarity, and inability to provide a credible, forward-looking agenda have made it difficult for leaders like me to pursue the reform and development agenda that our people desire,” he said.

The Kebbi central senator praised the APC for its focus on national development and security.

“On the other hand, the APC, under its renewed leadership, has shown encouraging signs of transformation. Admittedly, while no political party is perfect, I have witnessed a growing commitment within the APC to prioritise national interests above political expediency, to drive infrastructure development, ensure security, empower the youth, and reform critical sectors of the economy.

“I am defecting not for personal gain, but because I believe that these moments of inner history, the APC offers a more viable platform through which I can effectively serve my constituents and advocate for progressive policies. I have moved Nigeria forward.”

Mr Abdullahi, who previously left the APC in 2022 due to political disagreements in his state, said those issues have now been resolved and described his return as a “homecoming.”

“Your Excellency, I recall on 14 June 2022. I withdrew my membership of the APC and resigned my position as the leader of the Senate following political disagreements in my State. I am happy to note that those disagreements have been amicably resolved by the incumbent Governor. I therefore have no reason whatsoever not to go back to the APC, particularly since I am one of the major architects of its formation and sources. For me, my going back to the APC is a homecoming event,” he wrote in his letter.

The senator noted that he consulted stakeholders in his constituency before deciding to quit the PDP.

“This decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders in my constituency and beyond, as well as careful reflection on the evolving dynamics within the party, both at the national and state levels. I believe it is in the best interest of the constituency that I present to take this step at a time when the state governor is making tremendous efforts to develop the state and bring prosperity to its people.”

On his part, Mr Maidoki said his decision was based on the ongoing PDP crisis and his belief that the APC’s vision was better aligned with the needs of his people.

“My decision is based on the lingering internal crisis of the PDP and my belief that the ideas of the APC are better aligned with my political aspirations, which will enable me to participate fully in the renewed hope for the benefit of my senatorial district and Nigeria at large.

“When I was sworn in as a senator in June 2023, more than 100 villages in my senatorial district were occupied by bandits, and in constant fear of kidnappings, rapes, and cattle rustlesting. To the glory of God, the deployment of troops at the area has played significant roles in proactive security of the area. My people have almost all returned back and are farming peacefully,” he added.

After reading the letter, the deputy senate president congratulated the senators for joining the ruling party.

Thereafter, Messrs Aliero, Abdullahi and Maidoki exchanged pleasantries with other APC senators before they were led to their new seats at the Majority section of the chamber.

The senators also had a photograph session with the national chairperson of the APC, the Kebbi governor and other dignitaries in their entourage to celebrate the defections.

PDP reconciliation committee

The defections occur despite the PDP’s efforts to resolve its internal crises.

On Monday, the PDP Governors Forum appointed former Senate President Bukola Saraki chairman of its seven-member reconciliation committee to address the party’s crises.

The committee was set up to reach out to aggrieved members and ensure a peaceful National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and national convention.

Mr Saraki, who led the Senate between 2015 and 2019, promised that the committee would do its best to reconcile party members and ensure smooth preparations for the NEC meeting on 27 May.

Also, the PDP Senate Caucus announced in October 2024 that it would set up a separate panel to engage other arms of the party in finding lasting solutions to the ongoing crisis.

The Caucus Leader, Abba Moro, who represents Benue South Senatorial District, said the panel would include former governors and senior party leaders who are members of the caucus.

However, it remains unclear whether the caucus eventually inaugurated the committee or if it played any role in mediating the conflict within the party.