At least three additional members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have surrendered their membership in the ruling party to join opposition groups ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to InsightnaijaTV, this has cut the number of APC senators in the current National Assembly from 70 to 67.
Senators Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), Lawal Yahaya Gumau (Bauchi South), and Francis Alimikhena have all defected (Edo North).
Separate letters read during plenary at the Red chamber on Tuesday by Senate President Ahmad Lawan confirmed their defection.
Babba Kaita and Alimikhena are believed to have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Gumau deserted to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) (NNPP).
In his resignation letter, Babba Kaita stated that he left the ruling party due to marginalization.
He said: “As Senator representing Katsina North Senatorial District, I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and registration declaration for the Peoples Democratic Party.
“My resignation from the APC was born out of the marginalization of critical stakeholders by the State Government and Leadership of the Party in Katsina State, where small people like me do not have a chance.
“I have since been joyful and graciously accepted into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State.”
Senator Alimikhena, for one, claimed that his decision to leave the APC was prompted by the “ongoing and multifaceted crisis that has bedeviled the APC,” particularly in his Senatorial District, “that has created parallel executives that has undermined internal discipline, cohesion, and focus.”
