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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The numerical strength of the Senate caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has risen to 80 senators following the defection of Ipalibo Harry Banigo, representing Rivers West Senatorial District.
Banigo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, said her decision followed extensive consultations with constituents and political stakeholders in Rivers West Senatorial District.
In the letter dated March 2, the former Rivers State deputy governor cited lingering crises within the PDP as a major factor behind her decision.
Following her defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, the party composition in the 10th Senate now stands as APC, 80 Senators, PDP, 22 Senators, ADC, four while NNPP, SDP and APGA have one each.
Her announcement was greeted with loud applause from APC senators, who erupted in excitement and moved to welcome her into the ruling party’s caucus. Banigo’s defection also means that all National Assembly seats from Rivers State in the Senate now belong to the APC, further underscoring the party’s growing influence in the region.
Earlier, two senators from Rivers State had also moved from the PDP to the APC the late Barinada Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East and Allwell Heacho Onyesoh, representing Rivers East and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character Commission.
With Banigo’s entry into the APC fold, the ruling party has further tightened its grip on the Senate, reinforcing its legislative dominance while the opposition ranks continue to shrink. Banigo, a first-time lawmaker elected in the 2023 general election and former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, formally announced her defection in a letter read on the floor of the Senate by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, during Tuesday’s plenary.
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Her move further consolidates the ruling party’s dominance in the 10th Senate as opposition parties continue to lose ground in the upper legislative chamber.
In the letter addressed to the Senate President, Banigo attributed her decision to the lingering internal crisis within the PDP, stating that persistent leadership disputes and litigation within the party had affected her political standing.
“Given the prevailing internal divisions and protracted leadership issues and ongoing litigation within the leadership of my former party, which have adversely affected my position, I am convinced that the All Progressives Congress offers a more stable and progressive platform to advance the objectives and developmental agenda of my constituency and the nation at large,” her letter read.
The senator also said her decision was influenced by the need to align politically with her mentor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, and the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in supporting President Bola Tinubu and his administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
She further commended Tinubu’s economic reforms, noting that they had contributed to currency stability and infrastructure development across the country. Banigo also pledged support for initiatives championed by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues in the APC in the 10th Senate to continue serving the good people of Rivers West Senatorial District and Nigerians at large,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the Senate also suspended plenary proceedings briefly to honour the memory of the late Senator Mpigi, who died on February 19, 2026, after a protracted illness.
The motion was moved by the Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, who paid tribute to Mpigi’s contributions to the legislature and his representation of Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
