JUST IN: Adamawa, Zamfara senators dump PDP, join APC

Three senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Amos Yohanna of Adamawa North, said he resigned his membership of the PDP due to unresolved internal divisions within the party.

His words: “This decision follows prolonged and unresolved internal divisions within the party at a national level which have significantly impaired its cohesion and effective functioning of the party.

“The persistent crisis has created a structural fracture within the party affecting its national leadership and operational stability.

“In view of the foregoing and posturing to Section 68 Subsection 1G of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended which permits a member of the Senate or a member of the Legislature to retain his seat where defection arises from a division in the political party at a national level, particularly that sponsored this election.

“I hereby formally notify the Senate of my decision and my formal defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

On his part, Senator Aminu Abbas of Adamawa Central, said he had resigned his membership of the PDP and defected to the APC with immediate effect.

His words: “I write to formally inform you and my distinguished colleagues in this hallowed chamber of my decision to resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party and officially defect to the All Progressives Congress with immediate effect.

“This move is pursuant to the provisions of Section 68 of Section 1G of the 1999 constitution as amended which permits a member of the national assembly to defect to any political party of his choice where there is a division in the national leadership of the party that sponsored his election.”

He added: “The prevailing conditions within the PDP clearly meet the constitutional threshold of the word division as recognized by the extant judicial interpretations of the above provisions of the Constitution.”

Abbas said: “The deepening of internal factions and the ongoing leadership tussles, which resulted in multiple court cases, has created uncertainty regarding the party’s stability and the possible prospect of the party in the forthcoming election.”

He added: “This informed my decision to withdraw my membership of the party and to defect to the All Progressives Congress.”

Ikra Bilbis, senator representing Zamfara north, also announced his resignation from the PDP and defection to the APC.

He said: “I write to notify His Excellency and the hallowed chamber on my decision to resign my membership of the People’s Democratic Party and to cross over to the All Progressives Congress.”

Bilbis said the decision followed consultations with political associates and stakeholders.

He said: “The difficult but very necessary decision comes after extensive and well-dressed consultations with my political associates and key stakeholders within my constituency and beyond.”

He added: “My primary allegiance remains to the good people of my senatorial district, whom I owe my allegiance and respect.”

Bilbis said the move was also influenced by the crisis within the PDP and the need to align with the federal government.