Senate Minority Whip Osita Ngwu defects to APC, cites PDP crisis

Nigeria’s Senate Minority Whip, Osita Ngwu, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal divisions within the opposition party.

His defection was formally announced on Wednesday during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, after a letter from Ngwu was read on the floor of the Senate.

Ngwu, who represents Enugu West Senatorial District, said he was leaving the PDP the platform on which he was elected because ongoing crises had made it difficult for him to effectively represent his constituents.

“I write to notify the distinguished Senate of my resignation from the PDP and my membership of the APC,” he said in the letter.

He added that the internal challenges in the PDP had hindered his legislative objectives, prompting his decision to align with what he described as the “progressive values” of the APC and support President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, as well as the APC-led administration in his state.

“I offer my sincere gratitude to the PDP and wish the party well in resolving its internal issues,” he said.

Following his defection, Senate President Akpabio announced that Tony Nwoye (ADC, Anambra) would now serve as the new Senate Minority Whip.

In a related development, Aliyu Wadada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, also formally defected from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the APC, with his letter likewise read during plenary.