President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday received two senators who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), further consolidating the ruling party’s majority in the National Assembly.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, led Senator Kaila Samaila Dahuwa of Bauchi North and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of Cross River North to the State House in Abuja, where they were formally presented to the President.
Speaking after the meeting, Akpabio said the lawmakers’ defection was motivated by their desire to support the administration’s policies aimed at revitalising the economy and improving revenue generation.
“But 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 join him to build Nigeria,” Akpabio said. “They are not interested in which political party is in power but in who can move the nation forward.”
Senator Dahuwa, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 11, cited internal crises within the opposition party as a major factor behind his decision. He said he chose to align with the APC to contribute to the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda and development vision.
“We are joining the APC not for personal gain but to move Nigeria forward because we believe the President is doing very well economically and otherwise. We joined this winning team so that we can win together,” Dahuwa stated.
Similarly, Senator Jarigbe, representing Cross River North, said his decision to defect was driven by his confidence in the President’s leadership. “The President is really doing well, and I want to come in and support him,” he said.
In a related development, President Tinubu also received Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who recently dumped the PDP for the APC. The governor’s defection, along with that of his cabinet and supporters, was celebrated in Enugu last week in a ceremony attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima described Mbah’s move as “an extraordinary endorsement of the APC’s collective vision,” saying it reflected growing confidence in the Tinubu administration’s policies.
The latest defections are seen as a political boost for the APC as it strengthens its influence ahead of future elections.
