The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday had its fold swelled up by an additional member in the Senate as Senator Nelson Effiong (Akwa Ibom South) ditched his former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to become an APC Senator
Effiong defection to APC now brings s the total number of APC senators in the Senate to 64 while that of the PDP senators reduced to 43.
Announcing his defection, Senator Effiong alluded to order 43 for support siting the division in the leadership of the PDP at the national level as reason for his action.
He said the PDP has remained a divided party and without any clear direction at the national level, stating that no reasonable politician would want to remain in its fold.
His said, “I have decided that no reasonable politician who is worth his salt would remain and allow his people to be drifting about without a direction. So I have decided today, the 19th day of January, 2017 to resign from the PDP and move to the party that is bringing peace and direction to this country, the APC. So I move.”
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki accepted his defection and had attempted to prevent further debate on the Senator’s defection. Notwthstanding Some senators insisted on making remarks
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha , the Senate’s Deputy Minority Leader said there was no any division in the PDP as alleged by Effiong , just as he asked the defected Senator to vacate his seat as clearly stated in section 68 (1a and b) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
He said: “I hope that my colleague is aware of the implications of what he has just done as provided for in section 68 of the 1999 constitution as amended because the PDP as a party is one, is intact. I fear for his seat and the consequences that may follow as a result of this action.
“ I want to say Mr. President that what he has said appears to be an insult to those of us who are in the PDP that “a politician that is worth his salt” that is an insult. If you want to do the usual business in the Nigerian politics of following the weather he should say it clearly.
“This business of moving here and there following the weather should be stated clearly and let him not deviate from the original intentions he has that is our position. We are going to meet in Philippine”.
The Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio said the PDP Senator who defected took undue risk because the PDP in Akwa Ibom will proceed to court to reclaim its mandate.
He said: “I need to let the senate and the senate president know that in terms of the court decisions up to the supreme court that it is not an individual that contest election it is a political party and therefore the moment somebody takes the mandate of a political party to another one, it behooves on that political party to immediately take steps.
“Through rumour, we heard that this action is going to take place and we engage the senator in various discussions and we have shown him the implication ahead.
“I want it to be noted in this senate that the PDP in Akwa Ibom state is already on its way to court and would want to reclaim its mandate.
“We must reclaim the mandate given to us and we don’t mind the distinguished senator joining the APC but he will not go with the mandate given to us in Akwa Ibom state. The reason why I am standing is that today it is the PDP, tomorrow it might be APC where not less than 10 senators have approached me for similar moves into PDP”
During the the 8th Senate in June 2015 APC had 59 Senators after the death of Senator Ahmad Zannah while PDP had 49 Senators totalling 108.
However, the balance of power changed later to 63 APC senators, PDP while PDP has 44 senators and 1 Labour Party as more senator after conclusion of all the rerun senatorial elections ordered by electoral tribunals and voluntary ended up in the camp of APC.
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