NIGERIA (Kwara) – A Nigerian Senator and former Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has declared that seventeen Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will defect to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) this week.

He said in Ilorin yesterday that the concerned senators shall officially defect to the APC this week:

“We are going to formally defect. When we started, we were 19. But Jigawa senators pulled out. We have 17 senators that will defect from PDP to APC.

“The letter has been signed. I have signed my own. Others have signed theirs. So, it is not a matter of maybe. It must be and not a matter of months or weeks, but a matter of days,” he said.

Saraki, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment, said: “I want you to rule out the fear of losing our seats; this week we will write the senate president of our decision to defect. The letter is ready, only that we don’t want to go solo; there are two other senators who were to go to their constituencies this weekend and finalise with their people.

“You know when it comes to the Senate, the issue is more complicated and you have to handle it; your constituency is larger than that of the Representatives and in politics, there are many things you must consider.

“But I can tell you it is not a question of ‘if’, it is a matter of when and I can assure you it will happen. We know that the majority of senators understand issues beyond the case filed by the PDP.”

The expected defection will make APC Senators 50, leaving PDP with 56 Senators. Labour Party has two senators – Boluwaji Kunlere and Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo State). The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has one – Mrs Chris Anyanwu (Imo State).

 Speaking further, Saraki said “forced” resignation of Alhaji Bamaga Tukur as PDP chairman had vindicated his group. He insisted that “there is no reason to go back to the PDP, which has recently done what it should have done long ago, with the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur”.