- Safiu Kehinde
Kogi State lawmaker, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has charged former Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) lawmakers who decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to the opposition party as she warned of possible disappointment at the ruling party.
Akpoti-Uduaghan gave the charge while addressing newsmen at the Press Conference held on Sunday by the PDP’s faction backed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
While affirming that the party still remains a force to reckon with, Akpoti-Uduaghan recalled however disclosed that only six PDP Senators are left in the red chamber as against the 37 lawmakers she met when she joined the Senate.
“People of Nigeria will have no doubt that the PDP has come to stay.
“And I’m saying from the Senate to my fellow Senators, when I joined- I think it was late November 2023- we were 37 PDP Senators.
“But today, we are only six. It wasn’t easy. At every sitting, they were expecting Senators to decamp. And when I asked few of them that why are you leaving the party?
“They will mention the leadership crisis.” She said.
The lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District however urged her defecting colleagues to return to the PDP as she warned that they will not get the automatic ticket promised to some of them by the APC.
She expressed optimism that with their return, the PDP will regain its place as the majority in the National Assembly while also winning governorship elections as well as the presidency.
“So, I’m saying this to my colleagues who have decamped. Trust me, it’s not greener on the other side. So, you are all welcome back to the PDP.
“And I say this boldly to you because I have heard loud whispers that many of them who promised automatic ticket upon their decamping will no longer get the ticket.
“But if you all come back to the PDP, it won’t be bad if we have majority in 2027 election. More House of Reps members, more Senators, hopefully governors, and presidency.” Akpoti-Uduaghan added.