Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria's leading opposition coalition says it has won over 11 senators who have defected from President Goodluck Jonathan's party.
Lai Mohammed, spokesman for the All Progressives Congress, said Wednesday that even more senators are expected to defect soon.
Jonathan's party has fractured over his perceived desire to contest February 2015 elections. It recently lost its majority in the House of Representatives when dozens of legislators joined the opposition.
However, a former presidential candidate and ex-governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, announced his defection Wednesday from the opposition coalition to the president's party, citing the coalition's lack of structure.
Nigeria has a history of violent elections and there already has been conflict as Arica's biggest oil producer prepares for balloting Feb. 14, 2015.
(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
