There was a little confusion during the Senate plenary on Wednesday, following Senator Dino Melaye’s decision to cross over to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) side of the Chamber from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) wing.
Melaye’s action precipitated speculation that he had defected from the APC to the PDP. People read diverse meanings to his movement.
Melaye, who appeared with clutches and neck support to Wednesday’s plenary, said he was no longer comfortable sitting on his seat at the wing of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He requested to be allowed to cross over to the wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The APC, in reaction, said Melaye merely “changed seat”, arguing that the Senator had not communicated his party if indeed he had defected to the opposition party.
But the PDP’s spokesperson, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan welcomed the embattled lawmaker into the party.
Ologbondiyan, who took to his official Twitter handle wrote: “This Morning, @Sen_Dino_Melaye crossed the aisle of the Red Chamber to the “Comfortable” and “People-Oriented” @OfficialPDPNig side.
“As a party, we welcome him and await his final porting to the Peoples’ Party.”
Also, Senator Ben Bruce on Twitter welcomed the lawmaker to the PDP.
He wrote:”Great to have @dino_melaye at the @NGRSenate today and hearty welcome to our great party, @OfficialPDPNig.
”We will treat you good – no trauma or intimidation whatsoever.”
But Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki insisted that Dino Melaye is still a member of the APC.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned, Dino Melaye is still a member of the APC.”
Saraki who was laughing after Dino announced his cross over, added that “Melaye will be allowed to temporarily sit among the opposition for now.”
He added: “I don’t think at any time in his contribution the issue of change of allegiance or party ever came up. It’s not an issue that has come up today at all. He talked about his state of mind and comfort.
“None of us has been through what he has been through neither do I think the rules have ever foresaw this kind of situation. As part of our spirit of giving support, we will accommodate his request and make sure that seat is comfortable so that you can come back.”
On his own part, Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, urged other members of the APC, particularly members of the nPDP faction who have been allegedly sidelined, to return to the PDP and, according to him:“save themselves from further harassment and neglect from APC.”
Fayose continued: “The return of Dino Melaye to PDP is a welcome development and a sure signal that implosion is about to happen to APC, and that other PDP members that defected to the APC in 2014 will come back.
“I knew ab initio that it is an unholy alliance against the PDP by those political parties that fused to form the APC. I knew that it would not last.
“As expected, things are beginning to fall apart. The door of PDP is widely open to accommodate people of like minds who are disenchanted by this APC-led Federal Government which is the worst in the political history of this country.
“No time in the history of this country have people been slaughtered as it is now, and it is a daily occurrence, without the Buhari administration being able to stop it. Instead, the president has been going about campaigning for re-election,”Fayose, an outspoken critic of the president stated.
Meanwhile, the member representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Mr. Adams Jagaba, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Jagaba formally announced the defection in his letter to the House of Representatives during Wednesday’s plenary.
The lawmaker said he left the APC following his suspension from the party at the state level.
He said that the party suspended him for being vocal against the killing of innocent Nigerians across the country.
“My unwarranted suspension by the party because I was vocal against the killings in the state and across the country made me take that decision,” he said.