In a significant shift within the Nigerian political landscape, two senators from Akwa Ibom State, Sampson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South) and Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Their defection was announced during Wednesday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who read their respective letters.
Senator Aniekan Bassey, in his letter, cited “deeply considered” political realities in his constituency and a “fractured beyond redemption” party structure as the driving forces behind his decision. He emphasized that the move was in the “overall interest of my people to continue to provide effective representation.” Bassey also extended gratitude to the PDP for the platform it had provided.
Similarly, Senator Sampson Ekong stated that his defection followed extensive consultations with his constituents and was influenced by the recent move of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to the APC. Ekong highlighted the “need to strengthen collaborations to develop my senatorial district and the larger Akwa Ibom State,” adding that “politics is a game of interest, and if I may add, circumstances.” He noted that the “current division in the People’s Democratic Party leaves me with no other option than to seek an alternative platform.”
Beyond the Akwa Ibom senators, the Senate President also announced the defection of two other PDP senators from Osun State: Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East) and Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central).
Senator Fadahunsi, in his letter, expressed that his political journey compelled him to align with “like-minded individuals” and lawmakers dedicated to driving meaningful change. He pledged to “bring my wealth of experience to bear at ensuring the victory of the APC from top to bottom.”
Senator Fadeyi attributed his exit to the PDP’s alleged failure to meet the expectations of Nigerians. He stated that the party could no longer provide the “dividends of democracy, infrastructural development, education, and good health, and of course employment opportunities.”
Fadeyi also criticized the “numerous court cases involving party members,” which he claimed had “tarnished the party’s image, disrupted its core mission, and fractured the umbrella.”
These defections represent a notable gain for the ruling APC and could reshape the political dynamics within the Senate and the respective states of the defecting lawmakers.
By: Eugene Upah
