Abuja – In a significant political shift, two Senators from Rivers State, Barinada Mpigi and Onyesoh Alwell, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection, announced during Senate plenary, reduces PDP’s Senate representation from 26 to 24 and boosts APC’s numbers from 76 to 78.

The Senators cited internal crises and factionalization within the PDP as reasons for their departure. “The reason for my defection is due to the various litigations and lack of leadership in the Peoples Democratic Party, which have led to disunity and disputes among members,” said Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, another PDP Senator who defected to APC recently.

Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele welcomed the defectors, emphasizing APC’s commitment to democracy. “Our democracy is growing. APC is exercising its constitutional obligation to open its door to all. Nobody is joining APC under any form of coercion,” he said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged APC to maintain internal democracy, cautioning against the pitfalls that led to crises in PDP and other minority parties.

The updated Senate configuration shows APC with 78 Senators, PDP with 23, Labour Party with 4, APGA with 2, NNPP with 1, and SDP with 1, totaling 109 Senators.