Senators on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) officially increased from 66 to 70 on Wednesday during plenary with defection of four more serving senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC .
The four serving senators who defected from PDP to APC during plenary on Tuesday after separate letters they forwarded to the President of the Senate , Senator Godswill Akpabio were read , are Senators Francis Fadaunsi (Osun East) , Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central) , Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East) and Sampson Ekong ( Akwa Ibom South) .
The four Senators in their separate letters , attributed their defections from PDP to APC to unending crisis rocking the party with attendant factionalization which according to them made PDP to be a sinking ship that can no longer take them to the centre where desired dividends of democracy can be delivered to their constituents .
The defectors in their letters also attributed their defection to the development – driven programmes and policies of APC government under President Bola Tinubu .
Specifically Senator Aniekan Bassey in his letter said : ” I firmly believe in the principles and values that the APC upholds, and I am eager to actively contribute to the betterment of our dear country and my constituents, and of course, the incoming victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, come 2027.
“I have been very impressed by the President’s commitment and dedication to the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda which emphasizes on inclusivity, environmental sustainability, education, and social welfare that plays a role deeply in the development of the All-Progressives Congress”.
Senator Fadahunsi in his own letter said : ” This decision has not been taken lightly, but I feel compelled to do so due to the unresolved internal crisis, various litigations, and cases, and lack of leadership at the national level in PDP .
” These issues have led to widespread disaffections and mistrusts among members making it very challenging for me and largest percentage of my constituents to remain in the party ‘
Defection of the four Senators also reduced the number of PDP Senators in the 10th Senate to 28 from 36 it had at the beginning in June 2023 .
Also , Senators on the platform of Labour party which were 8 at take off in June 2023 , have reduced to 5 , just as those on the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP) , have also reduced to 1 from two .
Current configuration of membership in the 10th Senate is 70 Senators for APC , 28 for PDP , 5 for Labour Party , 2 for Social Democratic Party ( SDP) , one for NNPP and one for All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) , totalling 107 .
The two vacant seats ( Edo Central and Anambra South will be fixed after bye elections which will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) next month .
The current configuration shows that APC just needs three more Senators to hit 2/3 majority in the Senate which is 73.