2023: Buhari steps in as over 22 aggrieved Senators vow to defect from APC

Following plans by over 22 aggrieved Senators to defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday held a meeting to pacify them.

The Senators were to return to the National Assembly in 2023, but lost tickets at the APC primary elections and they have been claiming injustices as responsible for their woeful outing.

The aggrieved Senators also cited the lack of internal democracy during the party’s primary elections.

Some Senators who have penultimate week defected to the opposition parties are, the immediate past Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North, former governor of Kebbi State, Adamu Aliero, Senator representing President Buhari in Katsina North, Ahmad Babba-Kaita; former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, among others.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP have been beneficiaries of the defection.

CAPITAL POST recalled that the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu had met with Senators where he appealed for calm.

Adamu also agonised over mass defection rocking the APC, but expressed optimism that the party would overcome the challenge in an interview he had with the Senate Press Corps after a close door meeting in Abuja.

But on Tuesday, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who led a delegation of aggrieved lawmakers in the upper legislative Chamber said the lawmakers felt disenfranchised by the process and conduct of the primaries.

Reacting to grievances of Senators, President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted to have told the restrain from defecting to other political parties.

Buhari said, defection would threaten APC majority in the upper legisative Chamber.

Speaking, Kalu revealed that the Senators would no longer pursue defection from the APC.

“Earlier this afternoon, I led the 22 aggrieved Senators and members of the All Progressives Congress to President Muhammad Buhari, GCFR.

“Our meeting with Mr. President was successful and the issue of decamping from our party has been laid to rest,” the Chief Whip wrote on his social media page.”