Senate President Godswill Akpabio has taunted the coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu, saying the wave of defections from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is an indication that the party is dying.
He said this while reading the defection letter of some members of the ADC at the red chamber, on Tuesday.
Akpabio, who first read the letter of Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, who defected from the ADC to Labour Party, asked all those who are leaving the party to send in a single letter to avoid a situation where the senate would be going over the process repeatedly.
His remarks sparked laughter at parliament.
“Resignation from ADC and declaration for the Labour Party… maybe all those defecting from the ADC should just compile everything in one paper and bring it, so that we don’t keep announcing it and it doesn’t look like a daily ritual.
“I am being asked, how many times can you defect in a month? You have to ask Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.”
“Senator Adamu Aliero, as an elder statesman, the question is: how many times can you defect in a month?”
Responding Aliero said, “Once!” to which Akpabio interjected, “But some have done so three times. Is it as the spirit directs or the voice of the gods?”
He continued: “This one is from an elder statesman and one of the landlords of the Senate. “It reads: ‘I write this letter to inform you and my distinguished colleagues of my decision to resign my membership of the ADC.
“But we know you are going there, because the last time you came, we told you to take it easy,” he said as the lawmakers erupted into another round of laughter.
“Continuing, Akpbaio read: “Accordingly, I have moved to the Labour Party, and my decision is anchored on the pronounced leadership crisis rocking the ADC, occasioned by multiple legal suits within the party.’
Rounding off the letter, the Senate President said, “But you didn’t even say that you consulted your constituents or gave any other explanation, other than asking us to accept the assurances of your highest regards.”
