Agom Jarigbe, Senator representing Cross River north, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jarigbe confirmed his defection to the ruling party on Wednesday night after Senate President Godswill Akpabio led him and Kaila Samaila, the senator representing Bauchi north, who recently joined the APC, to meet President Bola Tinubu at the State House.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Akpabio said Jarigbe’s defection is about patriotism.
“They [Jarigbe and Samaila] are Mr President’s children, and they are his supporters. The president is the father of the nation and the father of all political parties,” Akpabio said
“But interestingly, they joined the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on different political platforms, but as a result of Mr President’s policies that have turned things around economically and particularly in terms of revenue generation for the nation, they found it expedient to come and join to build Nigeria.
“Theirs is nothing but patriotism. They are not interested in which political party is in power, but they are interested in who can run Nigeria, who can improve Nigeria, and who can put food on the tables of Nigerians.”
Asked why he joined the APC, Jarigbe said “because the president is really doing well, and I want to come in and support him in delivering the dividends of democracy to our people”.
The latest defection adds to the growing list of politicians leaving the PDP for the APC and African Democratic Congress (ADC).
