The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Tuesday after two senators from Rivers State—Allwell Onyesoh and Barinada Mpigi—formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The senators cited irreconcilable internal divisions within the PDP and the need to align with the Federal Government to effectively serve their constituents.
The defections were announced separately on the floor of the Senate during plenary, where the lawmakers crossed over from the opposition to the governing party in the presence of a high-powered APC delegation drawn from the national and state levels.
Onyesoh, who represents Rivers East Senatorial District, said his decision followed wide consultations with political leaders and stakeholders in his constituency.
Since the hour I arrived to officially announce my defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, this decision is coming on the heels of several consultations with Rivers East Senatorial District people, whose collective aspirations I represent,” he said.
He stressed that his primary allegiance was to his constituents rather than to any political platform.
“Political parties are channels for the exploration of political interests. It was on this basis that I got elected on the platform of the PDP.
