The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed the resignation of the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Tuesday in Abuja also welcomed the Kwara State Governor, Ahmed Abdulfatah and the Nigerian High Commissioner  to South Africa, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, to its fold.

PDP assured all returning members of all the rights and privileges accruable to every member of our party.

The party said that the coming of Saraki, Ahmed and Ibeto could not have been at a better time than now when Nigeria required the input of genuine patriots that would save her from an impending decline.

The party noted the harassment and intimidation that the duo of Saraki and Ahmed had suffered in the APC , “”which they helped to build and nurtured to win elections.’’

“Sen. Saraki, in particular, has conducted the affairs of the Senate in reflection of the wishes of the silent majority of Nigerians and had emerged a hero of democracy.

“The party has no doubts that Saraki, Ahmed and Ibeto will contribute immensely to the new order that engender good governance in our nation.’’

Meanwhile, the PDP has decried what it called the harassment of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, opposition leaders, and voices of dissent by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led-Federal Government.

The party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday in Abuja, accused the government of misusing the anti-graft and security agencies close to the 2019 general election.

Ologbondiyan said that the current development posed a grave threat to the nation’s democracy and urged the international community to stop the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration before it becomes too late.

He party was reacting to what it described as a witch-hunt against Ekweremadu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“Just a few days after the EFCC and over 200 policemen practically held Ekweremadu hostage to prevent the defection of the APC Senators to the PDP, the EFCC has continued to harass Ekweremadu to cover its shame.

“We wish to remind Nigerians and the international community that this is only the newest in the series of attempts to destroy the senator politically in the run up to the 2019 general elections.

“It is of grave concern to us that while corruption and corrupt persons abound in the APC, the EFCC prefers to chase after innocent members of the opposition.”

He said while scores of APC members with corruption and fraud-related charges walk free, the anti-graft agencies had continued to harass and dent leaders of the opposition in the name of anti-corruption war.

It warned the APC administration to desist from “highhandedness and witch-hunt of the opposition” in order not to truncate the country’s democracy.