Nigeria, May 7 -- Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila has defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Sumaila, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (upstream), announced his defection in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary on Wednesday.

In the letter, the lawmaker explained that his decision to quit the NNPP was a result of the unresolved leadership crisis in the party which has led to litigations and internal divisions.

Mr Sumaila had earlier announced his resignation from the NNPP on 24 April, without disclosing the party he wanted to join. Many had speculated that he would join the opposition APC in Kano because of his closeness...