National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
The Nigerian Senate was abuzz with tension on Tuesday as Senator Ned Nwoko’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) sparked a heated debate among lawmakers.
The drama unfolded during the plenary session when Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, raised a point of order, challenging the legitimacy of Nwoko’s defection.
Moro argued that the PDP was not in crisis, and therefore, Nwoko’s move was unconstitutional.
However, Deputy President of the Senate, Jibril Barau, countered Moro’s argument, stating that the Constitution allows for defection in the event of a division within a party.
Barau cited the existence of factions within the PDP, including the Wike and Bala Mohammed factions, as evidence of a legitimate division.
The debate took a dramatic turn when Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, intervened, asking Moro about the PDP’s governors and their stance on the party’s crisis.
Akpabio also suggested setting up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the PDP’s internal crisis.
In the end, Akpabio ruled in favor of Nwoko’s defection, dismissing the PDP’s objections.
The Senate President’s decision has been seen as a significant blow to the PDP, which has been struggling to maintain unity within its ranks.
Nwoko’s defection is also expected to have far-reaching implications for politics in Delta State, where he is from.
The senator’s move is seen as a strategic alignment with the Federal Government’s agenda, and it remains to be seen how this will impact his constituents and the state’s politics.
