Two PDP senators from Zamfara defect to APC

Hassan Anka and Sahabi Yau, senators representing Zamfara west and north, have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Notice of their defections was in two separate letters read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.

The development comes less than 24 hours after Bello Matawalle, Zamfara governor, formally joined the ruling party on Tuesday.

Both senators said they were leaving the PDP because it has been engulfed by crisis.

Yau described the APC as a “formidable and peaceful party”.

“Being a representative of my people and having consulted widely with them, I have decided to defect from the crisis-ridden party to a more formidable and peaceful party,” Yau said in his notice to the senate.

Also, Anka’s letter read: “I wish to inform you of my decision to move from the PDP to the APC.

“The decision is necessitated by the crisis of the state chapter of the PDP that has negatively affected representation of our constituents.”

The formal defection of Peter Nwaoboshi, senator representing Delta north, was also announced.

“I write to notify you that I have formally joined the APC,” Nwaoboshi said.

“The PDP in its entirety is imploding under huge intolerance, tyranny and gross failure of leadership in ways that are impossible for normalcy to continue in the party.”

Mohammed Gusau, senator representing Zamfara central, is yet to announce his new party. He resigned from the PDP on Tuesday.