The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been reduced to 67 members in the National Assembly‘s Upper Chamber after losing three Senators to opposition parties.
Senators Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), Lawal Yahaya Gumau (Bauchi South), and Francis Alimikhena (Katsina South) are among the lawmakers (Edo North).
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read three different letters announcing their resignations and defections during plenary on Tuesday.
Gumau, on the other hand, defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party, while Babba Kaita and Alimikhena moved to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (NNPP).
“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,” Babba Kaita writes in his letter.
“My resignation from the APC was born out of the marginalization of critical stakeholders by the State Government and Leadership of the Party in Katsina State, where small people like me do not have a chance.
“I have since been joyful and graciously accepted into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State.”
Senator Alimikhena noted that his decision to leave the APC was prompted by a “continuing and multifaceted crisis that has bedevilled the APC,” particularly in his Senatorial District, “that has created parallel executives that have undermined internal discipline, cohesion and focus.”
