The lawmaker representing Cross River North in the Senate, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has finally dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
There has been speculations since May 2025 that the well-spoken lawmaker was making moves to join the APC, a move he vehemently denied assuring his supporters and members of the PDP in Cross River State that he remained committed to the PDP.
The defection of the Cross River Senator was revealed on Wednesday night at the Presidential Villa by the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Akpabio led the duo of Senators Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and Kaila Samaila to a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking to journalists, Sen. Akpabio said, “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.”
“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.”
Akpabio dismissed insinuation that the lawmakers were being coerced into joining the ruling party and stated that the defectors were joining the APC “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.”
