Senator Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe, representing Cross River North, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing months of internal crises and deep divisions within the PDP.

In a letter read by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, during Tuesday’s plenary, Jarigbe explained that his decision followed careful reflection on the state of his former party, which he said had been crippled by factionalism at both the national and state levels.

“For the best interest of my constituents, I have chosen to join the APC,” Jarigbe said, adding that the move would allow him to deliver effective representation under a stable and progressive platform.

Barau welcomed Jarigbe into the APC, receiving applause from senators across party lines. The defection now gives the APC all three senatorial seats in Cross River State, with Eteng Williams (Central) and Asuquo Ekpenyong (South) completing the sweep.

Following Jarigbe’s switch, the current Senate composition is: APC 76, PDP 25, Labour Party 4, APGA 2, SDP 1, and NNPP 1, strengthening the ruling party’s dominance at the upper legislative chamber.