Two senators from Rivers State, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), further weakening the opposition’s numbers in the Red Chamber.
The defectors are Senator Allwell Onyesoh, representing Rivers East Senatorial District, and Senator Barinada Barry Mpigi, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Their defection was formally announced on the floor of the Senate amid the presence of top APC national officers and party leaders from Rivers State.
Introducing the APC delegation, a senator said, “We have with us Senator Ajibola Basiru, the effective and hardworking National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress. We also have Chief Victor Giadom, the National Vice Chairman of the APC, South-South. You are welcome to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.”
He added, “We also have Felix Morka, our very effective National Publicity Secretary, who has continued to drum the message of the APC to Nigerians and to the international community.”
Other party officials present were also acknowledged on the floor.
“We have Alhaja Zainab Ibrahim, the Deputy National Women Leader of the APC, a strong advocate for women participation in politics. We also have Honourable Duro Meseko, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of our great party,”* the senator said.
From Rivers State, the party leadership was also recognised.
“We have Chief Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, and Chief Eric Abinye, the State Secretary of the APC. Are you ready to register the two members? Please do the needful,” he stated.
Reacting to the development, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, described the defection as a normal democratic process and rejected claims that the APC was coercing lawmakers to join the ruling party.
“This situation is like describing an elephant. It depends on the direction from which you are looking at it,” Bamidele said.
“If you are looking at it from the tail, you think that is the size of the elephant. If all you can grab is the hair, you think that is the size of the elephant.”
He stressed that the APC was constitutionally open to all Nigerians.
“Let me say once again that the ruling party that produced us is a party registered under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, and the party has a constitutional obligation to open its doors to all those who intend to join the party without reference to religion, tribe or any form of discrimination.”
Bamidele added that lawmakers were free to align with a government they believed was performing well.
“If a government is doing well in the estimation of stakeholders, and elected members of parliament are stakeholders in any democracy, and if they have consulted with their constituents — because every politics is local — and their constituents are comfortable with it, it is allowed in a democracy for such legislators to cross carpet.”
He formally announced the defection of the Rivers lawmakers.
“Today, we have also witnessed two of our great colleagues from the other side of the aisle — Distinguished Senator Allwell Onyesoh and Distinguished Senator Barinada Barry Mpigi — crossing carpet to join us in the APC caucus.”
Congratulating the party, another APC senator said the turnout of national officers underscored the importance of the moment.
“I congratulate the two gentlemen and I congratulate our party, the All Progressives Congress. I am not surprised that the party leadership is here, led by our National Secretary, our Deputy National Chairman, and other members of the National Working Committee.”
Bamidele dismissed allegations that Nigeria was drifting toward a one-party state.
“This is good for our democracy. Those insinuating that we are turning Nigeria into a one-party state should recognise that nobody is joining the APC under any form of coercion. These are responsible stakeholders doing what they believe is best for their people and for our democracy.”
He assured minority senators of continued cooperation.
“We will continue to work with members of the minority caucus. When they are here, they do not see themselves as members of the opposition first; they see themselves as senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Senate Leader also congratulated President Bola Tinubu.
“I want to congratulate the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. We will continue to ensure that power is used to put food on the table of Nigerians, provide good education for their children, and deliver meaningful healthcare.”
On internal party discipline, another APC lawmaker cautioned against repeating the mistakes of the opposition.
“We must learn from the breakup of the PDP. There must be proper internal democracy, obedience to the rule of law, and adherence to due process in the APC. Anybody that enters this party has equal privileges. There must be no discrimination.”
He added metaphorically, “Whenever a goat is watching the slaughter of a chicken, the goat will begin to wonder how its own day will be.”
Ruling on the matter, Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed that the new APC senators be formally received.
“The Leader of the Senate should move to the other side of the aisle and bring our new members to join us,”Akpabio said.
“I so rule.”
The defecting senators were thereafter escorted to their new seats amid applause from the APC caucus.
Boluwatife Enome
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