Senator Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress representing Kogi West at the plenary on Wednesday signalled intention of defecting to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
The embattled Melaye made an announcement of his preference for a seat on the side of the senators of the opposition PDP, an indication of defection, causing rowdy session.
His demand caused the commotion after weeks of being away from the Senate Chambers.
Senator Melaye resumed plenary and asked to be moved from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) side of the chamber to the opposition side.
He sought Senate President Bukola Saraki’s permission to leave his allotted seat and move to the side of PDP members at the Senate chamber.
He specifically asked that he wants to sit beside the former Senate President, David Mark, an indication of carpet crossing.
According to Senator Melaye, his reason for wanting a change of seat is because his present seat is no longer comfortable after his ordeal with the police and his health issues.
But the lawmakers from the ruling APC kicked against the move by Senator Melaye, arguing that his action was against the constitution.
Meanwhile, the opposition lawmakers welcomed the change of seat by Senator Dino Melaye.
The decision of Melaye came barely 24 hours after Prince Dayo Adeyeye, one of the aspirants for the governorship ticket of PDP in Ekiti State, dumped the party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In preparation for his change of seats, Melaye raised a point of order and thanked his colleagues, members of the House of Representatives, his constituents and the Nigerian populace for standing by him during his travails with the Senate.
He thanked the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for their support.
Melaye’s travail started when he refused to appear before the police to answer to accusations by some arrested suspects, who alleged that the senator supplied them with arms and ammunition.
The senator had had persistently refused to appear before the police on an invitation, but was later arrest and jumped out of the police vehicle that was taking him to Lokoja to appear.
The Senator landed in the National Hospital after he was said to have jumped out of a moving police vehicle in April.
