The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suffered another loss in the Senate when Senator Kaila Dahuwa Samaila, who represents Bauchi North Senatorial District, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The move was formally announced on Tuesday during a plenary session after a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio was read on the floor. In the letter, Senator Samaila cited the prolonged internal crises within the PDP as the reason for his departure, noting that unresolved leadership issues and factional disputes had weakened the party’s structure both in his state and nationwide.
Samaila, a first‑term lawmaker elected in 2023, is the latest opposition senator to leave the PDP amid its internal turmoil. His defection reduces the PDP’s representation in the 10th Senate to 27 members, while the APC’s majority has risen to 74 seats. The Labour Party holds 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.
This defection is part of a broader pattern of opposition lawmakers abandoning the PDP due to its internal crisis, which has been ongoing for some time and has involved various factions and leadership struggles. The shift further consolidates the APC’s hold on the Senate, potentially affecting the passage of legislation and the overall political landscape in Nigeria. As the political environment continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the PDP will respond to this latest loss and what implications it 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 poised to influence key decisions and policies.
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