The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday reclaimed its position as majority in the House of Representatives following the defection to the party of five members of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Among the defectors are Abdulsalam Adamu (Kano), Ladan Bichi (Kano), Sani Galadinma (Zamfara), Ibrahim Gusau (Zamfara) and Umar Bature (Sokoto).

That notwithstanding, Isa Ashiru (Kaduna), announced his defection from the PDP to APC.

At the red chambers, another 11lawmakers who had written to notify the Senate of their defection from the PDP to the APC where shunned as Senate President David Mark turned down requests to read their letter, insisting that he cannot rule on the matter as the case was still in court.

Bukola Saraki who brought up the issue of the letter said the refusal of the Senate President to read the letter on the floor of the Senate was a breach of the lawmakers’ privilege.

According to the defecting senators, they had already started attending the meetings of the APC, which was an indication that they had defected.

The senators that signed the letter are Umaru Dahiru from Sokoto South, Magnus Ngei Abe from Rivers South-East, Wilson Asinobi Ake from Rivers West, Bindawa Muhammed Jibrilla from Adamawa North and Mohammed Danjuma Goje from Gombe Central.

Others are Aisha Jummai Alhassan from Taraba North, Mohammed Ali Ndume from Borno South, Mohammed Shaba Lafiaji from Kwara North, Abdulahi Adamu from Nasarawa West and Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir from Sokoto East.

A list attached to the letter sent contained 16 names but only 11 signed, indicating their intention to defect.

The other senators in the list that did not sign are Ahmed Muhammed Maccido from Sokoto North, Saidu Ahmed Alkali from Gombe North, Basheer Garba Mohammed from Kano Central, Ahmed  Zanna from Borno Central and Ahmed Hassan Barata from Adamawa South.