APC tightens grip on Senate with defection of Sen. Agom-Jarigbe

By Naomi Sharang

The grip of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC strengthened in the Senate on Tuesday with the defection of the senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe into its ranks.

The defection of Agom-Jarigbe who was elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) increased the number of seats under the control of APC in the senate to 76, thus giving the party a super majority in the 109-member senate.

In his resignation letter read by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, Agom-Jarigbe blamed months of internal crises and irreconcilable divisions that he said had crippled the PDP at the national and state levels for his decision to dump the party.

He also blamed factionalisation of the party at the national and state levels as part of the reason for his decision to dump the party.

“I rise to formally notify you and the distinguished leadership of the senate of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party on whose platform I was elected to represent the good people of Cross River North Senatorial District.

“The decision came after deep and thoughtful reflection on the current state of my former party.

“It is with regret that I note the persistent and deep-seated divisions and the deliberate factionalisation at both the national and state levels as the primary reasons for my departure,” he stated.

Jarigbe said that he decided to align with the ruling party to continue delivering effective representation to his constituents.

“In the light of the foregoing, and in the best interest of my constituents, I have chosen to join the All Progressives Congress.

“I believe that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the steady guidance of the National Assembly, the APC provides a stable and progressive platform to deliver the democratic dividends expected by the people of Cross River North,” he added.

Following the announcement, Barau welcomed Agom-Jarigbe into APC, saying: “You are most welcome. Please welcome him”, as senators across party lines applauded.

The senator’s defection has further strengthened APC’s grip on Cross River, where all three senatorial seats are now occupied by members of the ruling party.

The other two senators from the state are: Eteng Williams (Cross River Central) and Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South).

PDP’s internal conflict deepened after a Federal High Court in Abuja halted its planned national convention, initially scheduled for Nov. 15 and 16 in Ibadan.

Another Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, on Tuesday, also restrained PDP from holding the convention.

It also barred INEC from supervising, monitoring or recognising the outcome of the convention the party went ahead in defiance of the court order.

NAN