PDP senator, Dariye defects to APC

The political equation in the Senate has assumed a new dimension, with the defection of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator, Joshua Dariye to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

With this development, the ruling party now controls 59 lawmakers, as against PDP’s 43 and Labour Party’s one.

By implication, the APC now commands 57percent of the legislative body, as against PDP’s 42percent and LP’s one percent.

Thursday’s defection is the first time a senator in the 8th Senate would defect to another party.

In a letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki at Thursday’s plenary, Dariye, a former governor of Plateau State and Chairman Senate Committee on Public Procurement, said his decision to cross over to APC was informed by the protracted division at the national level of the PDP that led to the massive movement of his supporters to APC.

Immediately after the announcement, he was ushered from the PDP to APC row by the Senate Chief Whip, Sola Adeyeye, as APC lawmakers applauded the development.

Dariye is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly diverting about N1.162 billion Ecological Fund meant for Plateau State.

Some political commentators have described the defection as a soft landing.

But responding to a question by BusinessDay while speaking with journalists after plenary, the politician denied the claim, saying: “That is incorrect. People in APC have cases. They have not left for APGA. But all politics is local”.