President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally received two senators who recently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), further strengthening the ruling party’s presence in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday evening, led Senator Kaila Samaila Dahuwa of Bauchi North and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of Cross River North to the State House, Abuja, where they were formally presented to the President.
Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting, the Senate President said the defecting lawmakers hinged their decision on the pursuit of national interest, describing their move as a commitment to supporting the administration’s vision for the country.
“But as a result of Mr President’s policies that have turned things around economically and particularly in terms of revenue generation for the nation, they found it expedient to come in and join him to build Nigeria.
There’s nothing but to build Nigeria; they are not interested in which political party is in power. They are interested in who can run Nigeria, who can improve Nigeria, who can put food on the tables of Nigerians,” Senator Akpabio added.
Senator Dahuwa, formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had announced his defection in a letter read on the floor of the Senate on October 11.
In the letter, Dahuwa cited persistent internal crises and unresolved internal challenges within the PDP as major factors that hindered their ability to discharge their legislative responsibilities effectively.
Senator Dahuwa stated that his decision to join the APC was driven by a desire to align with President Tinubu’s reform initiatives and national development vision.
He expressed confidence that the ruling party provides a more stable platform to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s progress.
“We are not joining another political party or we are joining for another thing, but as patriotic Nigerians to move Nigeria forward because we believe the President is doing very well economically and everywhere, so we joined this winning team so that we win together”, Senator Dahuwa said.
Also responding to the defection move, Senator Jarikpe, representing Cross River North, said he joined the APC, “because the President is really doing well and I want to come in and support him”
A political group, under the aegis of Abuja Front of APC Cross River North, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart and Senator representing Cross River North, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group cited his significant influence and popularity in his senatorial district.
In a statement on Monday, the National Coordinator of the group, Hon. Gabriel Bravo Oluohu, described Jarigbe as an asset to the party, with organic supporters across all local governments in Cross River North.
Meanwhile, the president also received the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, who recently dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress party, APC.
It would be recalled that the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tuesday, 14th October, in Enugu during the grand reception of Governor Peter Mbah, his cabinet, and supporters into the APC.
Shettima described the decision by the Enugu State Governor and thousands of his supporters to defect to the governing party as an extraordinary endorsement of the APC’s collective vision.