President Bola Tinubu has formally received two senators who recently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), further strengthening the ruling party’s presence in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday evening led Senator Kaila Samaila Dahuwa of Bauchi North and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of Cross River North to the State House, Abuja, where they were presented to the President.
Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting, the Senate President said the defecting lawmakers hinged their decision on the pursuit of national interest, describing their move as a commitment to supporting the administration’s vision for the country.
“As a result of Mr President’s policies that have turned things around economically and particularly in terms of revenue generation for the nation, they found it expedient to come in and join him to build Nigeria.
“There’s nothing but to build Nigeria; they are not interested in which political party is in power — they are interested in who can run Nigeria, who can improve Nigeria, who can put food on the tables of Nigerians,” Senator Akpabio said.
Senator Dahuwa, formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had announced his defection in a letter read on the floor of the Senate on October 11.
In the letter, Dahuwa cited persistent internal crises and unresolved challenges within the PDP as major factors that hindered members’ ability to discharge their legislative responsibilities effectively.
He said his decision to join the APC was driven by a desire to align with President Tinubu’s reform initiatives and national development vision.
“We are not joining another political party for another thing, but as patriotic Nigerians to move Nigeria forward because we believe the President is doing very well economically and everywhere. We joined this winning team so that we win together,” Senator Dahuwa stated.
Also responding, Senator Jarigbe representing Cross River North said he joined the APC “because the President is really doing well and I want to come in and support him.”
Meanwhile, President Tinubu also received the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, who recently left the PDP for the ruling APC.
It would be recalled that Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Tinubu on October 14 in Enugu during the grand reception of Governor Mbah, his cabinet members, and supporters into the APC.
At the event, Shettima described the decision by the Enugu State Governor and thousands of his supporters to defect to the governing party as an endorsement of the APC’s collective vision.
