In a significant political development, Agom Jarigbe, the Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection was formalized following a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio led Jarigbe into the meeting, alongside Senator Kaila Samaila from Bauchi North, who also recently joined the APC. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Akpabio described the defections as acts of patriotism, emphasizing that both senators aligned themselves with President Tinubu’s policies, which have driven economic reform and national revenue growth.
“Jarigbe and Samaila are Mr. President’s children and supporters. The president is the father of the nation and all political parties. Their defection is not about party politics but about who can improve Nigeria and put food on the tables of Nigerians,” Akpabio stated.
Senator Jarigbe himself cited the president’s progress in governance as a key motivation for his switch. “Because the president is really doing well, I want to come in and support him in delivering the dividends of democracy to our people,” he said.
This shift marks a strategic political realignment in Cross River State, further consolidating APC’s influence in the South-South region ahead of the 2027 general elections. It also follows the recent defection of Hon. Peter Akpanke of Obanliku/Bekwarra/Obudu Federal Constituency from PDP to APC, signaling a dwindling opposition presence in the state.
The defection has drawn mixed reactions locally, with supporters viewing it as a pragmatic move to support Nigeria’s national renewal under the APC’s Renewed Hope Agenda, while PDP members in Cross River lament the loss of a key opposition figure. The development underscores ongoing shifts in Nigeria’s political landscape as politicians recalibrate ahead of future elections.
