APC’s Senate Seat Rises To 81 After 2 Taraba Senators Join Party

Two serving Senators from Taraba State, Shuaibu Isa Lau (Taraba North) and Haruna Manu (Taraba Central), have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), raising the number of seats occupied by the ruling party in the Senate to 81.

The defections were announced yesterday in separate letters addressed to the Senate and read on the floor by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Reading Senator Manu’s letter, Akpabio said it was titled Notification of Resignation, in which the lawmaker formally announced his decision to leave the PDP and align with the APC.

Manu explained that the move followed deep and extensive consultations with his constituency, political associates and key stakeholders, as well as a careful assessment of prevailing political realities and the developmental aspirations of the people he represents.

“I have become convinced that my conscience and contributions to the legislative and developmental agenda of my nation will be better advanced on the platform of the All Progressives Congress,” Manu stated, while requesting that his defection be duly noted in the records of the Senate.

The Senate President subsequently announced that the APC Senate Caucus had gained a new member.

In a similar development, Akpabio read another defection letter from Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau, who cited growing concerns about the internal direction and issues within the PDP as the reason for his decision.

Lai said he believed the APC aligns more closely with his values and vision and asked that his letter be accepted as formal notification of his defection.

After the two senators were warmly welcomed and embraced by members of the APC Senate Caucus, Akpabio taunted the opposition, particularly the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, urging him to explain why members of the opposition were continually abandoning their parties for the ruling party.

“I am sure Abba Moro has something to say about this. So please proceed,” Akpabio teased.

Reacting, Moro said the minority caucus was not worried about what he described as the political moves of a few ambitious members.

He noted that such defections were no longer news and expressed sadness that some PDP lawmakers had decided to move to another platform with what he called his mandate.

Moro questioned the claim of wide consultations cited by the defecting senators, insisting that the leadership of the minority caucus was not informed.

He maintained that regardless of the number of lawmakers remaining, he would continue to lead the minority caucus until the end of the 10th Senate.

However, Akpabio dismissed Moro’s remarks, further teasing him by saying that leadership remains leadership even if one is “leading yourself,” before thanking him for his speech.

Following the defections, the APC now holds 81 seats in the senate, PDP has 21 seats, while the Labour Party has two.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have two seats each, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has one seat.

Two seats remain vacant following the deaths of Godiya Akwashiki, senator representing Nasarawa north, and Okey Ezea, senator representing Enugu north.