by Azubuike Azikiwe

The fallout from the primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party persists, as 9 Senators of the ruling party have defected to the All Progressives Congress.

The defecting senators are Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi Central); Bassey Otu (Cross River South); Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East); Mohammed Magoro ( Kebbi South); Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman ( Kogi Central); Helen Esuene (Akwa Ibom); and Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East ). Others are Ahmed Zannah (Borno Central) and Saidu Alkali (Gombe North).

The Senator representing Akwa Ibom, North East, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, January 13, that he would campaign for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan but would, however, work for the electoral victory of all candidates of his new party, the All Progressives Congress.

He said, “I am working for the APC to ensure that it wins governorship election down to any other position. I will only work for Jonathan for presidency.”

Due to the cross-carpeting, the membership of the PDP dropped to 64 in the upper chamber of the National Assembly which has a total number of 109 senators, while the APC has 41 members.

They defecting senators dumped the PDP after being denied the party’s tickets to return to the Senate.