The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate caucuses disagreed on Tuesday as another Senator, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, officially notified the Senate of his defection from the PDP to the APC.

While the APC caucus attributed the gale of defections to the ruling party to likeness for President Bola Tinubu’s “fatherly love”, their PDP counterparts argued that defectors were being pressured to join the ruling party.

Speaking after Jarigbe’s defection letter was read on the floor in Abuja, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, stated that those leaving their political parties for the APC did so because they were attracted to Tinubu’s style of leadership, which he explained was characterised by a love for all Nigerians.

Jibrin ruled out the argument that the APC was bent on making Nigeria a one-party state.

“Tinubu takes Nigeria as one. He started as a progressive and he has continued to show his love to the people.

“Nigerians see him as the father of all. He has fatherly love for all”, he added.

However, the opposition led by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, dismissed Jibrin’s explanations.

Moro noted that most defectors were leaving not necessarily because they were happy doing so, but because they had no options.

“Are you people happy now that you are in APC? You are not happy.

“Those of us in the position, we are prepared to remain here to sustain democracy in Nigeria”, Senator Moro added.

Jarigbe (Cross River-North) had long joined the APC, but the Senate made the formal announcement on Tuesday.

With the development, all three senatorial seats in the state are now occupied by the APC.

The other two are Senator Eteng Williams (Cross River-Central) and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River-South).

The addition of Jarigbe also jacked up the numerical strength of the APC to 76 out of 109 senators.

The leading opposition party, PDP, is left with 25 senators; Labour Party (LP), 4; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 2; Social Democratic Party (SDP) 1; and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 1. (TRIBUNE)