Party welcomes 2 defecting Senators back to its fold

Sen. Lanre Tejuoso, who Senate President Bukola Saraki claimed left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday returned to APC on Wednesday.

Tejuoso, representing Ogun Central, announced his return at a meeting between APC Senators and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock on Wednesday night.

While introducing himself to the President, he said: “Mr President, your son has returned home.”

Also at the meeting was Senator Adesoji Akanbi, Oyo South, who Saraki also claimed had joined the PDP. He emphatically denied the list of defectors as dubious the following day, saying he remains a member of the APC.

His showing up at the meeting with President Buhari affirmed his faith in the APC.

Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna, who has been blowing hot and cold about his political allegiance was also at the meeting, exchanging banters with his colleagues.

Those attending the meeting included Sen. AdamuAleiro, Bala IbnNa-Allah, AliyuWamako, IbrahimGobir, KabiruMarafa and AbuIbrahim.

Others were KabiruGaya, BarauJibrin, AbdullahiGumel, AhmedLawan, AliNdume, AbubakarKyari, BabaKakaGarbai, AliyuAbdullahi, DavidUmaru and AbdullahiAdamu.

Sen. GeorgeAkume, FrancisAlimekhina, AndrewUchendu, MagnusAbe, OvieOmo-Agege, JohnEnoh, NelsonEffiong, AndyUba, SunnyUgboji, HopeUzodinma, BenUwajimogu, YusufAbubakar and OluremiTinubu were also in attendance.

Other senators in the meeting were GbengaAshafa, SolomonAdeola, TayoAlasoadura, AjayiBoroffice , YeleOmogunwa, FatimaRasaki, OlanrewajuTejuoso and YahayaAbdullahi.

The Senate President, BukolaSaraki, believed to be hobnobbing with the PDP, was among those who were not at the meeting.

With Tejuoso and Akanbi and Sani now firmly identifying with the APC, the party has now increased its majority in the Upper Chamber to 54, enough to dictate the direction of policy.