The political landscape in Rivers State is taking a new dimension as two senators and six members of the House of Representatives officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.
Those in the upper-lawmaking body who defected are Senator Allwell Onyesoh, who represents Rivers East, and Senator Barinada Mpigi, of Rivers South-East.
The announcement was made during plenary, with the Senate suspending its rules to allow the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and other party executives into the chamber to witness the defection.
Both senators, who are considered loyalists of the FCT Minister – who is also the immediate past governor of Rivers State – Nyesom Wike, said their decision was informed by deep and unresolved internal divisions within the PDP.
With these defections, the APC has further consolidated its dominance in the upper legislative chamber, increasing its tally to 78 senators and securing a commanding majority in the Senate.
Their defection adds to the swelling number of political topwigs who have joined the APC. Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers recently teamed up with the ruling party.
Despite the criticisms that have greeted the wave of defections into the APC and fears that Nigeria is becoming a one-party state, the Senate leadership says democracy is thriving in the country.