The President of Nigeria’s senate has defected to the opposition.
Bukola Saraki left the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
This is seen as a major blow to President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid for re-election in next year’s polls.
Saraki’s defection follows similar move by more than twelve Nigerian senators from the ruling APC last month.
Another 37 members of the house of representatives also announced their defection from APC.
Impact of defections
The recent defections mean that the main opposition People’s Democratic Party now has a majority in the Senate.
The PDP following the defection will now have more than 58 senators, the APC will have some 48 senators in the 109-member house of representatives.
Mr Saraki says the APC has failed to live up to its promises since winning the 2015 election.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, and Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed have also announced their defection to the PDP.
Last year a major ally of the President, Atiku Abubakar announced his decision to join the opposition political party, PDP.
In July the ruling APC also witnessed a split after some aggrieved members announced the formation of a new party.
The newly formed party the Reformed All Progressives Congress could also threaten President Buhari’s second term bid.
The National Chairman of the new party is Alhaji Buba Galadima. He says President Buhari has over the last three years demonstrated incompetence.
He also says the party is promoting nepotism at the highest level of governance. Galadima accused the Buhari-led administration of intolerance for any form of dissent.
The 75-year-old leader is struggling to deal with his country’s economic crisis as millions remain jobless. He has also failed to contain ethnic clashes and the insurgency of militant group Boko Haram.
Source: Africafeeds.com
