Drama as PDP senators stop colleague from defecting to APC

Desperate to sustain its strength in the Senate, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus prevented one of their own, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji from Ebonyi from defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as they created a melodrama in attempt to pin him down to the opposition party.

The Senator had formally declared for the APC at his Ebonyi South senatorial district and was to formalize the process in the Senate before his colleagues prevailed on him to drop the idea, at least to consult with them.

Ogbuoji during Wednesday Plenary was about to formally notify the Senate of his defection into the majority party from the PDP and had already started addressing his colleagues when the PDP members cut him short and asked him to have a rethink.

Senator Ogbuoji had in his address, cited problems in the opposition party (PDP) both in Ebonyi, his state and at the national level as the reason for his decision to dump PDP for the APC.

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Ogbuoji said: “I have decided to leave my former party both in the state and national level,” the senator said before he was interrupted as PDP Senators immediately left their seats to consult with him and stop his formal defection on the floor of the Senate.

“When I started, my colleagues from my party said they needed me to consult with them. Because of the love they have shown me I have decided to step down my declaration.”

In his reaction to the turn of events, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said: “I will keep a whole day if he decides to come back.”

While the Senate was on recess, Ogbuoji after registering as an APC member, had attended an APC South East Caucus meeting at the Uburu, Ohaozara country home of the Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu to register interest in the ruling party.
He told the APC members at the meeting that the PDP was currently embroiled in crises, far beyond what could be imagined, stressing that the manner the opposition was being run has always been inimical to the interest of Ndigbo.

Ogbuoji advised that Igbo should disabuse their minds from the wrong perception that the PDP is a party that caters for Igbo interest, contending that so far, the APC remains the best option for the South East, since the zone, according to him has its eyes on Presidency by 2023.

The PDP has been losing its members to the APC in both the Senate and the House of Representatives over the past few months, a development that has built up the APC’s strength within the two chambers.

By the last count, the PDP’s seats in the Senate have dropped to 41 while those for the APC has ballooned to 67.

Olufemi Samuel, Abuja