ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A former Deputy Governor of Rivers State and senator representing Rivers West, Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Her defection was formally announced on Tuesday during plenary at the Nigerian Senate when the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read her letter on the floor of the chamber.
In the letter, Harry-Banigo attributed her decision to the persistent crisis rocking the PDP.
The lawmaker also pledged support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She further commended what she described as the leadership qualities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as well as the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
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Harry-Banigo’s move follows a wave of defections from Rivers State in recent weeks.
Earlier, six members of the House of Representatives from the state had joined the APC.
The lawmakers include Dumnamere Dekor (Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency), Solomon Bob (Abua/Odual and Ahoada East), Hart Cyril (Degema/Bonny), Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni), Blessing Amadi (Port Harcourt II) and Felix Nweke (Eleme/Oyigbo/Tai).
Two senators from Rivers had also defected to the ruling party earlier.
They are Barinada Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East, and Allwell Heacho Onyesoh of Rivers East Senatorial District. However, Mpigi died last month.
Harry-Banigo’s defection is seen by political observers as another shift in the balance of power in Rivers politics ahead of future political contests.