APC loses three Senators to opposition parties

Three Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have resigned from the ruling party.

Senators Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), Lawal Yahaya Gumau (Bauchi South), and Francis Alimikhena(Edo North).

While Babba Kaita and Alimikhena joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Gumau joined the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read three separate letters containing their resignation and defection during plenary on Tuesday.

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Babba Kaita’s letter reads, “As Senator representing Katsina North Senatorial District, I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and registration declaration for the Peoples Democratic Party.

“My resignation from the APC was motivated by the State Government’s and Party Leadership’s marginalization of critical stakeholders in Katsina State, where small people like me have no chance.”

“I have since been joyful and graciously accepted into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State.”
Senator Alimikhena, for his part, explained that his decision to resign from the APC was motivated by a “continuing and multifaceted crisis that has bedeviled the APC,” particularly in his Senatorial District, “that has created parallel executives that has undermined internal discipline, cohesion, and focus.”

The three lawmakers’ defection reduces the total number of APC Senators in the upper chamber from 70 to 67.