Agom Jarigbe, the senator representing Cross River North, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Agom Jarigbe confirmed his defection on Wednesday night after he and Kaila Samaila, the senator from Bauchi North who also recently defected to the APC, were taken by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to meet with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Akpabio described the defection as an act of patriotism, stressing that both lawmakers have always supported the president, noting that Tinubu is a leader for the entire country, not just one political group.
“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.”
When asked why he chose to join the APC, Agom Jarigbe said he believes the president is performing well and he wants to support his efforts to improve the lives of Nigerians.
“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,” he said.
His move is the latest in a growing trend of PDP members defecting to the APC and, in some cases, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
This comes barely 24 hours after Ojema Ojotu, the lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in Benue State, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
