The APC urged members to remain calm and be assured that the party will perform strongly in the 2019 general elections. The All Progressives’ Congress (APC) has reacted to the wave of mass defections that led to the departure of 51 members of the National Assembly from the party on Tuesday, July 24, 2018.15 Senators, who were members of the party in the upper legislative chamber, defected to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before 36 members of the House of Representatives also left the party.While 32 of them defected to the PDP, the remaining four lawmakers moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the political party adopted by the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) launched by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo.In reaction to the defection, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the APC is unfazed by the departure of those he said were unwilling to yield to the party’s attempts to solve differences.Despite the defection leading to the party’s loss of the Senate majority on Tuesday, Abdullahi said the party will consolidate on its majority in the federal House of Representatives and state assemblies.He further urged members to remain calm and be assured that the party will perform strongly in the 2019 general elections despite the defections.He said, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) notes the development in the National Assembly with the defection of some of our members from the Party.”In the last couple of weeks our Party leaders have worked to stave off this situation as responsible Party leaders would do. It would appear however that the individuals involved have different considerations beyond the grievances that they were willing to discuss and which our leaders were willing to address. “As a truly democratic party, we respect the right of every citizen to political association. Therefore, we urge our members to remain calm as we continue to work hard to position our party strongly for the next general elections. “APC remains in firm control of 25 states of the 36 states of the federation and maintains a clear majority in the federal House of Representatives and state assemblies. “We assure members and supporters that our great Party will continue to consolidate on our majority status in the leadup to the 2019 General Elections, even as our government continue to work hard to deliver on our promises to Nigerians.”List of Senators who defectedSenator Dino Melaye (Kogi) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) are two of the most notable lawmakers that dumped the APC on Tuesday.Others are Lanre Tejouso (Lagos), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara), Banabas Gemade (Benue), Mohammed Shittu (Jigawa), Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara), and Shitu Ubali (Jigawa)The others are Monsurat Sumonu (Oyo), Danbaba Ibrahim (Sokoto), Usman Nafada (Gombe), Nasif Nafada (Bauchi), Isa Misau (Bauchi) and Suleman Hunkuyi (Kaduna).
