The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered another loss in the Senate, as Senator Kaila Dahuwa Samaila, representing Bauchi North Senatorial District, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This move was formally announced on Tuesday during a plenary session, after a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio was read on the floor.

In his letter, Senator Samaila cited the prolonged internal crises within the PDP as the reason for his decision to leave the party. He stated that unresolved leadership issues and factional disputes had weakened the PDP’s structure in his state and across the country. Samaila, a first-term lawmaker elected in 2023, is the latest opposition lawmaker to defect from the PDP due to its internal crisis.

The PDP’s representation in the 10th Senate has now dropped to 27 members, while the APC’s majority has increased to 74 seats. The Labour Party has four senators, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has two, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) each have one senator.

This defection is part of a series of similar moves by opposition lawmakers dissatisfied with the PDP’s internal crisis. The ongoing crisis has led to a significant shift in the Senate’s composition, with the APC consolidating its majority. The PDP’s internal struggles have been ongoing for some time, with various factions and leadership issues contributing to the party’s weakened state.

The latest defection further strengthens the APC’s hold on the Senate, potentially impacting the passage of legislation and the overall political landscape in Nigeria. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the PDP will respond to its latest loss and what implications this will have for the party’s future. The ongoing developments in the Senate are likely to have significant repercussions for Nigerian politics, with the APC’s growing majority potentially influencing key decisions and policies.