Opposition senators stage walkout, as PDP lawmaker defects to APC

There was pandemonium in the Senate today, following the defection of Yele Omogunwa (PDP, Ondo South) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development followed the reading of the senator’s letter by Senate President Bukola Saraki on the floor of the hallowed chamber.

In his letter, the senator said he was joining the APC to assist the Ondo State APC governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu in his quest to provide good leadership to the people.

Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, raised a Point of Order to draw the attention of the Senate President to the Senate Order which forbids a senator from decamping unless the party of such lawmaker is polarized at the national level.

He, therefore, demanded that the seat of Omogunwa be declared vacant. The Senate President, however, ruled him out of order and justified the defection of the senator.
 
Dissatisfied, all PDP senators staged a walkout, insisting that the seat be declared vacant.