Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has firmly rejected claims that Senator Adamu Aliero and other Kebbi lawmakers were pressured into defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting their decision was voluntary and aimed at fostering national unity.

The clarification comes after all three federal lawmakers from Kebbi State – Senators Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki – formally announced their defection to the ruling party during Tuesday's plenary session at the National Assembly in Abuja.

The high-profile defection ceremony was attended by several APC dignitaries, including National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, and APC National Organizing Secretary Sulaiman Argungu.

"No one is being coerced into joining the APC. If anyone claims to be under pressure, it's definitely not Senator Adamu Aliero," Bamidele stated, addressing speculation about the motivations behind the defections.

The Senate Leader emphasized that the lawmakers' decision to switch parties was made in the national interest rather than as an attempt to weaken opposition or establish a one-party system. Instead, he framed it as a step toward building a government of national unity.

"This is the time for all of us to work together to take Nigeria to the next level," Bamidele remarked, calling for reduced political grandstanding and greater cooperation in addressing Nigeria's pressing challenges.

The defection of the Kebbi senators further strengthens the APC's majority position in the Senate, though former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole has reportedly stated that this majority does not pose a threat to democracy.

Political analysts note that these defections come amid increasing political realignments as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of future electoral contests.