17 PDP Senators will Defect to APC this week, Says Saraki

Senator Bukola Saraki

Dr. Bukola Saraki, Chairman Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment,  has hinted that about 17 Senators of  the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) will this week defect to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Saraki made this known during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin on Sunday. The two-time former Governor of Kwara State stated that the plans and strategies for defection have been concluded and signed by the defecting senators.

The defecting Senators will probably come from the Northern part of the country and possibly Rivers State.

He said: “It would surely happen this week on the floor of the Senate. It is not a matter of maybe. It’s going to happen and it will surely happen this week and not in a month. Nigerians already know that all this is not about personal interest, but pure sacrifice.

“You know we were part of the PDP and it’s because we did not make any headway and that we needed to rescue the nation and put some things right and save the country from further disintegration in the hands of the ruling government.”

Saraki also condemned the happenings in Rivers State saying the PDP government has decided to use the Police to foment violence in the state. 

The former Governor also assured Nigerians that none of the defecting PDP Senators will  their seat in the National Assembly as been insinuated by the PDP.

During the interview, Saraki also made it clear that he was not after Senate President David Mark’s seat, saying, “It would be insane for anyone, in any quarters to state that I want Senator Mark’s seat. I do not want his seat, but I will not be blackmailed in not doing or say what I feel is right because I have been down this road a number of times while standing strong on not only what is right but in the best interest of our great country.

“Therefore, I will not succumb to cheap blackmail that all my intent was all about naked ambition or personal interest.”

It would be recalled that about 20 Lawmakers from Kwara State House of Assembly defected from PDP to APC just last week.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed was also one of the 5 PDP governors that defected from PDP to APC in 2013