The lawmaker representing Rivers west senatorial district, Ipalibo Banigo, on Tuesday, March 10, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senate president Godswill Akpabio read Banigo’s letter announcing the defection during plenary.
In the letter, the Rivers lawmaker said the decision followed consultations with her constituents and political associates.
Banigo said internal divisions and leadership disputes within the PDP influenced her decision.
“I write to formally inform you and my distinguished colleagues in the senate of the decision to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and subsequently join the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the letter read.
“The decision follows extensive consultations with my constituents, my political associates, and critical stakeholders across my senatorial district, given the prevailing internal divisions, protracted leadership disputes, and ongoing litigations within the People’s Democratic Party, which have adversely affected cohesion.”
Following the lawmaker’s defection, the number of APC senators in the upper chamber has increased to 80, bringing the total number of female lawmakers within the APC caucus in the senate to two.
However, the usual ceremonial movement of a defecting senator from the minority wing to the majority wing of the chamber was deferred as lawmakers currently observe a period of mourning following the death of Sen. Barinada Mpigi.
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