Akpabio and Moro trade jibes after senate defections as two Taraba senators leave PDP for APC, widening the ruling party’s dominance

Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro exchanged banter on the floor of the Senate following the defection of two senators from Taraba State to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

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Senator Shuaibu Lau, representing Taraba North, and Senator Haruna Manu, representing Taraba Central, formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party.

The defections were conveyed in separate letters addressed to the Senate and read during plenary by Senator Akpabio.

Reading Senator Haruna Manu’s letter titled “Notification of resignation”, Senator Akpabio stated that the lawmaker attributed the decision to wide consultations and a reassessment of Nigeria’s political realities.

Senator Manu wrote that the decision followed extensive consultations with his constituency, political associates and key stakeholders, adding that he believed his legislative contributions would be better advanced on the platform of the APC.

Senator Akpabio also read a similar letter from Senator Shuaibu Lau, who cited concerns over the internal direction of the PDP and expressed the view that the APC aligned more closely with his values and vision.

Members of the APC Senate caucus received the two senators with cheers from the majority benches after the letters were read.

Turning to the Minority Leader, Senator Akpabio invited Senator Moro to respond, remarking that the opposition might wish to comment on the development.

Rising to speak, Senator Moro downplayed the political weight of the Senate Defections, describing the move as a familiar post election pattern.

Senator Moro expressed sadness that colleagues on the PDP bench had left with what he described as the minority’s mandate, while questioning the claim of wide consultations.

Senator Akpabio interjected, suggesting that Senator Moro’s remarks implied concurrence from the minority caucus, a suggestion the Minority Leader rejected.

Senator Moro maintained that the leadership of the minority caucus had not been informed of any consultations and wished the defecting senators well, while affirming commitment to leading the minority caucus for the remainder of the 10th Senate.

In response, Senator Akpabio made further light hearted remarks, drawing laughter from the majority benches and underscoring the charged but playful atmosphere in the chamber.

The Senate Defections further strengthen the numerical advantage of the APC in the 10th Senate.

With the latest development, the composition of the Senate stands at APC with 80 members, PDP with 21, Labour Party with two, All Progressives Grand Alliance with one, New Nigeria Peoples Party with one, and African Democratic Congress with one.

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The development highlights a continuing trend in the current Senate where opposition lawmakers have crossed to the ruling party, often citing internal party challenges or alignment with the federal government’s agenda.