Nine senators from three different political parties have formally notified the Senate of their decision to defect to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, marking a significant shift in the composition of the upper legislative chamber.
The lawmakers announced their defection during plenary through letters addressed to the Senate leadership, citing political developments within their former parties as reasons for their move to the ADC.
Three senators, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye and Ireti Kingibe, left the Labour Party to join the ADC. Their departure further reduces the Labour Party’s presence in the Senate, where it had previously gained seats following the 2023 general elections.
Five other senators also switched from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ADC. They include Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Binos Yaroe, Lawal Adamu Usman, Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo and Augustine Akobundu. Their defection represents one of the largest movements of opposition lawmakers to the ADC in the current National Assembly.
In addition, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who until now was the sole senator representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the Senate, also announced his defection to the ADC.
However, the Senate has asked Abaribe to reconsider his decision within one week. Lawmakers noted that the reason he provided for leaving APGA, which was that he had been expelled by the party, does not fall within the constitutional conditions that permit a legislator to defect from a political party without consequences.
The Senate leadership explained that the constitution only allows such defections under specific circumstances, such as a division or crisis within a political party or the emergence of a new political alignment.
Abaribe has therefore been given time to review his position and provide clarification, while the Senate continues to deliberate on the implications of the latest wave of defections to the African Democratic Congress.
