The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Adamu Abdullahi, is currently in a meeting with the party’s senators.

Adamu arrived at the National Assembly complex some minutes past 2 pm and moved to the office of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, for a brief meeting before the general meeting.

Earlier, Lawan while reading the letter signed by the Senate Deputy Majority leader, Ajayi Borofice, had announced that the meeting will take place by 2 pm at the premises.

The PUNCH learnt that the number of APC senators has dropped to 62 after consistent defection from the party’s lawmakers especially those who were unable to secure return tickets to the chamber.

Two senators from Bauchi and Imo States had during the plenary resigned their membership of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party respectively.

The lawmakers are Senator Dauda Jika representing Bauchi Central and elected on the platform of the APC; and Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi representing Imo East Senatorial District, who was elected on the platform of the PDP.

Both Senators in separate letters addressed to Lawan, conveyed their decision to resign their membership of the APC and PDP, to join the Labour Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party respectively. The APC lawmaker, Dauda Jika, in his letter said, “I hereby wish to notify you of my defection from the All Progressives Congress to the New Nigeria Peoples Party whose ideals are in line with my political aspirations.”

Onyewuchi, on his part, said, “I wish to inform Mr. President and a distinguished Senators of my defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Labour Party.

“This is after due consultation with my family, constituents and supporters.

“This will enable me participate fully in the movement for a new Nigeria.”Today’s defection brings the number of APC Senators to 66, with members of the minority parties standing at 43.

The minority parties in the Senate are presently five in number as at Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022.

They are the PDP, Young People’s Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Labour Party. Meanwhile, Lawan had before the Senate adjourned plenary on Wednesay said the upper chamber would, next week Wednesday, screen the seven ministerial nominees forwarded to the chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation.

“The ministerial nominees will be screened on Wednesday, next week”, he said.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter dated 15th June, 2022, requested the Senate to confirm the nomination of seven ministerial nominees.

He said the confirmation request was made in accordance with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The nominees for confirmation include Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh – Abia State; Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom State; Ekumankama Joseph Nkama- Ebonyi State; and Goodluck Nanah Opiah – Imo State.

Others are Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano State; Ademola Adewole Adegoroye – Ondo State; and Odum Udi – Rivers State.

The nominees will be screened individually by the upper chamber during plenary.