Two opposition senators from Rivers State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The senators are Mpigi Barinada, who represents Rivers South-East Senatorial District, and Allwell Onyesoh, representing Rivers East Senatorial District.

In separate letters formally read on the Senate floor on Tuesday, the lawmakers attributed their decision to what they described as deep-seated and unresolved internal divisions within the PDP at various levels.

Their defection increases the number of APC senators in the upper chamber to 78.

A delegation from the APC National Secretariat was present in the chamber to witness the formal defection and officially receive the lawmakers into the ruling party.