By National Record, with Agency Report
THREE senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.
The senators — Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) — announced their defection in separate letters read during the Senate plenary by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session.
In their letters, the senators attributed their decision to the prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP, including unresolved litigations and internal divisions.
The defection follows a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Friday.
The senators were accompanied by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
During the Senate session, key APC figures, including Ganduje, Governor Idris, and Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Tanko Yusuf, were present to welcome the defectors.
Deputy Senate President Barau congratulated the senators on joining the APC, after which they were escorted to their new seats in the Majority section.
With this development, the APC now holds 68 seats in the Senate, while the PDP has 30. Other party representations include the Labour Party (5), Social Democratic Party (2), New Nigeria Peoples Party (1), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (1).
The Senate currently has 107 members following the passing of former Anambra South Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in July and the exit of Monday Okpebholo, who vacated his Edo Central seat after being elected governor in September.
