Just In: 2 Prominent Nigerian Senators Who Defected Meet Tinubu

Just In: 2 Prominent Nigerian Senators Who Defected Meet Tinubu

  • President Bola Tinubu received Senators Kaila Dahuwa and Agom Jarigbe who defected from PDP to APC
  • Senate President Godswill Akpabio led the senators to the Presidential Villa and said their move was driven by national interest
  • The meeting strengthened APC’s influence in the Senate as both lawmakers pledged full support for Tinubu’s administration

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally received two Nigerian senators who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers, Senator Kaila Samaila Dahuwa of Bauchi North and Senator Agom Jarigbe of Cross River North, were accompanied to the Presidential Villa on Wednesday evening, October 22, by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

Two influential senators meet Tinubu in Aso Rock after defecting to APC ahead of 2027.
Tinubu meets two influential senators in Aso Rock after their defection to APC ahead of 2027. Photo credit: Kola Sulaiman/@Sen_Akpabio
Source: UGC

Both senators had earlier announced their defection during plenary at the National Assembly, citing alignment with the APC’s agenda and commitment to national development.

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Defection driven by national interest, says Akpabio

Speaking after the meeting, Senate President Akpabio said the senators’ decision to join the APC was guided by “a shared vision for Nigeria’s progress and stability.”

He noted that the APC remains open to all well-meaning Nigerians willing to contribute to nation-building and democratic consolidation.

Both Dahuwa and Jarigbe expressed optimism about their new political alignment, assuring the president of their full cooperation and legislative support in driving key government policies.

Two influential senators join APC, meet Tinubu in Aso Rock ahead of 2027.
Tinubu receives two influential senators who join APC ahead of 2027. Photo credit: @officialAPCNg
Source: Twitter

The meeting was described as cordial and symbolic, reaffirming the growing influence of the APC in the National Assembly.

With the latest defections, political analysts say the ruling party has further consolidated its dominance in the Senate, bolstering its ability to push through major legislative reforms in line with the administration’s priorities.

Four senators officially dump PDP

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced the defection of four senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during plenary on Wednesday, July 23.

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Akpabio reads the defection letters of the senators in separate letters in the chamber. The defecting lawmakers cited irreconcilable differences in the leading opposition PDP as the reasons for their defection.

After reading the letter, Akpabio directed that the letters should be documented by the Clerk of the Senate. The decamping senators are Senators Francis Fadahunsi, Osun East and Oluwole Olubiyi, Osun Central. Others are Senators Aniekan Bassey, Akwa Ibom North East and Samson Ekong, Akwa Ibom South.

With the development, the new composition of the Senate showed that the APC now has 73 senators, 26 still remain in the PDP, the Labour Party has one, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has two. The New Nigeria Peoples Party and the All Progressive Grand Alliance have one senator each.

Otti speaks on decamping to APC

Governor Alex Otti of Abia state said he has not joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor Otti dismissed reports of dumping the Labour Party for the ruling APC.

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The governor stated this while reacting to social media reports alleging that he has defected to the APC. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said political propagandists are responsible for the fabricated report.

Kanu said political propagandists are unsettled by Governor Otti’s consistent delivery of good governance and his growing popularity across party lines.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ezra Ukanwa avatar

Ezra Ukanwa (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng, where he brings his expertise to provide incisive, impactful coverage of national events. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944