The Senator representing Cross River North, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing the ruling party’s Senate strength to 77.
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Jarigbe’s letter of defection was read during plenary on Tuesday by Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session.
In the letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Jarigbe cited the persistent crises and irreconcilable divisions within the PDP as the main reasons for his departure.
“I rise to formally notify you and the distinguished leadership of the Senate of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, on whose platform I was elected to represent the good people of Cross River North Senatorial District,” Jarigbe wrote.
“The decision came after deep and thoughtful reflection on the current state of my former party. It is with regret that I note the persistent and deep-seated divisions and the deliberate factionalisation at both the national and state levels as the primary reasons for my departure.”
Jarigbe added that his decision to join the APC was motivated by the desire to continue delivering effective representation to his constituents. “I believe that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the steady guidance of the National Assembly, the APC provides a stable and progressive platform to deliver the democratic dividends expected by the people of Cross River North,” he said.
In response, Deputy Senate President Jibrin welcomed Jarigbe into the APC, prompting applause from senators across party lines.
Jarigbe’s defection consolidates the APC’s dominance in Cross River State, where all three senatorial seats are now held by members of the ruling party. The other Senators from the state are Eteng Williams (Cross River Central) and Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South).
Following this development, the composition of the Senate by party is now: APC 77, PDP 25, Labour Party (LP) 4, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 2, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 1, and Social Democratic Party (SDP) 1, totaling 109 senators.
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