No fewer than nine senators from various political parties have formally announced their defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), further altering the political balance in the Nigerian Senate.
Among the lawmakers who joined the ADC are Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Binos Yaroe, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, Lawal Usman, Ogoshi Onawo, Austin Akobundu, and Ireti Kingibe.
Their letters of defection were officially read during Thursday’s plenary session by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In his letter, Nwoye explained that his decision was prompted by internal crises and multiple legal disputes within the Labour Party, which he said had weakened the party’s cohesion and stability.
Responding after announcing the defections, Akpabio welcomed the lawmakers to their new political platform but rejected claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind the movement of senators across party lines.
He noted that lawmakers defected from different parties including the Labour Party, APGA and SDP, adding that the internal problems within those parties were responsible for the political shifts.
The defections highlight ongoing political realignments within the 10th Senate as lawmakers continue to switch party affiliations due to disputes within opposition parties.
Despite the development, the APC still maintains a strong majority in the chamber with 87 senators, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now has seven members.
With the new entrants, the ADC’s representation in the Senate has also increased to seven lawmakers. Other minority parties in the chamber include the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and the National Democratic Congress, each with one senator, bringing the total number of senators to 106.
Meanwhile, both the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) currently have no representation in the Senate following the latest wave of defections.
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