Nigeria’s National Assembly has experienced a seismic shift following the defection of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (Cross River North) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Announced formally during a plenary session on Tuesday and confirmed via a letter read by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, this move increases the APC’s Senate representation to 76 members, further consolidating its legislative dominance.

Senator Jarigbe cited deep-seated and irreconcilable divisions within the PDP at both national and state levels as the key reasons for his departure. “It is with profound regret that I cite the prevailing deep-seated and irreconcilable differences, as well as the persistent and deliberate factions within the party at both the national and state levels, as the primary reason for my departure,” Jarigbe stated in his letter.

Expressing confidence in the APC’s stability and leadership, Jarigbe affirmed his commitment to leveraging the party’s platform to deliver tangible results for his constituents in Cross River North. With this defection, all three senatorial seats in Cross River State including those held by Senator Eteng Williams (Central) and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (South)—are now occupied by APC members.

The current Senate composition stands as follows: APC – 76, PDP – 25, Labour Party – 4, APGA – 2, SDP – 1, and NNPP – 1, totaling 109 senators. This development highlights ongoing internal turmoil within the PDP, which continues to wrestle with leadership disputes in its National Working Committee (NWC), triggering escalating tensions, suspensions, and defections.