Twenty-two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators have backed the Abdullahi Baraje-led faction of the party.

The senators, in a statement on Monday night, congratulated former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano State), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdul Fattah Ahmed (Kwara), and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), "for the bold, swift and courageous step to reposition the Peoples Democratic Party under a new leadership."

They congratulated Baraje, the Deputy Chairman, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinola and other members of the National Executive Committee for their emergence as leaders of our great party.

They said: "By this decision that no doubt provides a soothing balm that will calm frail nerves in the party, you have written your names in gold and will be remembered in our political histoy as men that stood to save the party and Nigeria' s democracy."

The senators are: Senators Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Ahmed Zainah, Abdulahi Adamu, Abdulahi Danladi Sankara, Abdulmumini Mohammed Hassan,Umaru Dahiru, Ahmed Mohammed Maccido, Muhammad Shaaba Lafiaji, Simeon Sule Ajibola, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Magnus Ngei Abe,Wilson Asinobi Ake, Danjuma Mohammed Goje, Saidu Ahmed Alkali and Ahmed Hassan Barata.

Others are: Senators Bindowo Umar Mohammed Jibrilla, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Ibrahim Abdulahi Gobir, Bashir Garba Mohammad. Abdulaziz Usman and Isa Galandu.

The PDP has 74 senators.

On Saturday, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar had led the seven governors and some members of the National Assembly, delegates and aspirants to stage a walkout from the just concluded Special Convention of the party.

They subsequently formed a splinter PDP opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan, in the most explicit internal threat yet to his assumed bid to run for another term in office come 2015.