A former Governor of Plateau State and current senator representing Plateau Central, Joshua Dariye, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Dariye, who is standing trial on a 23-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of N1.2billion ecological funds while he was governor of Plateau State between 1999 and 2006 (when he was impeached), announced his defection Thursday after the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read the letter he wrote to that effect on the floor of the Senate.
Dariye, who moved from the PDP on whose platform he was elected twice as governor to the Labour Party, where he was elected a senator in 2011 before cross-carpeting back to his former party, said his decision to leave the PDP was informed by the protracted division at the national level of the main opposition party.
He said: “After due consultation with my constituency, I write to notify you of my intention to cross over from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“My decision is informed by the protracted division at the national level of the PDP that led to the massive movement of my supporters to APC. Arising from this, I therefore write to formerly inform you of my decision to go along with my supporters. I thank you for your understanding”.
With the defection of Dariye, APC has further strengthened its majority in the Senate with 59 senators while PDP has 43.
An elated Saraki commended Dariye for his action to leave the PDP.
Dariye’s defection came less than 72 hours after the Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions of the PDP reconciled their differences.
