15 Senators Dump APC, as Saraki Surfaces at Senate Plenary

The drama rocking the National assembly has reached an all time Senate President, Bukola Saraki made the announcement on Tuesday during plenary announcing the defection of 15 Senators from the ruling APC to PDP after escaping the siege laid out by men of the Police and DSS.

UPDATE: The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is now presiding over the Tuesday, July 24th Plenary of the Nigerian Senate.

— The Senate President (@SPNigeria) July 24, 2018

Former APC presidential aspirant Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Dino Melaye both respected members of the APC led the pack. Other Senators include Barnabas Gemade (Benue), Shaaba Lafiaji (Kwara), Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara), Abdulazeez Nyako (Adamawa), Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo) and Usman Nafada (Gombe).

Also, Senators Suleiman Hunkuyi, Ibrahim Danbaba, Ubale Shittu, Isah Misau, Suleiman Nazif, Soji Akanbi dumped the ruling party.

Senate President, @bukolasaraki announces defection of Senators: @lanretejuoso, Shaaba Lafiagi, @BI_Gemade, @dino_melaye, Ubali Shittu, @rafiuibrahim, @SenIsahMisau, Suleiman Hunkuyi, @MonsuratSpeaks, Abdullahi Danbaba, Bayero Nafada, Suleiman Nazif, @RMKwankwaso…

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 24, 2018

…Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Soji Akanbi to PDP.#TodayInSenatePlenary

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 24, 2018

After the announcement by the Senate President, some Senators started chanting “PDP”, in the chamber.

The Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, however, appealed to the defecting Senators not to defect.

“The disagreements do not translate into factionalization. I therefore feel that our Senators from the APC do not have to move to any other party.”- Senator Ahmad Lawan.

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 24, 2018

He noted that the ruling party APC has its own internal disagreement but “this does not translate to factionalization, therefore, they (Senators) have no reason to defect”.

The Senate President brought to the knowledge of the Senate that the deputy Speaker of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu is being held hostage

“DSP is absent. He cannot get out of his house. He is being held under seige. This morning I could not also live my street as well because some people believed today’s seating must not hold because some members want to move or defect.” –@SPNigeria @bukolasaraki pic.twitter.com/IBhrb46VTR

— Olu W. Onemola (@OnemolaOlu) July 24, 2018

“As you know the seat of the DSP, Ike Ekweremadu is absent. He cannot get out of his house. He is being held under seige.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 24, 2018

“As we are speaking, our DSP cannot leave the house. We must save this democracy. People have free association. They can even move tomorrow. I am sitting here and 16 members have decamped or defected to one party to another and there has been no seige.”- SP, @bukolasaraki

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 24, 2018

”I dont believe that this should come to this level where people would be laid under seige for something that is personal to them.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 24, 2018

Senators Abdul-Aziz Nyako and Monsurat Sunmonu have made a surprise defection to the ADC

Senators @MonsuratSpeaks and Abdul-Aziz Nyako defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). https://t.co/6ueIfgPWvE

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 24, 2018