Nine senators from three different political parties have defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) during a plenary session at Nigeria’s National Assembly, marking a significant shift in legislative alignments amid broader political realignments.
The lawmakers, previously members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), formally joined the ADC on the Senate floor. The senators who switched parties are:
From the Labour Party (LP): Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North).
From the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South).
From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South), Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Senator Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South), Senator Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), and Senator Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central).
This move follows earlier announcements of defections during the same legislative week. Previously, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had reported that six PDP senators defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He also announced that six other lawmakers from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and the Labour Party had moved to the ADC, bringing the total number of recent ADC arrivals to twelve.
These defections occur against a backdrop of ongoing political tensions and internal crises within several opposition parties. The ADC, previously a minor party, is now attracting a notable concentration of legislators, altering the dynamic in the upper chamber. The developments underscore fluid party loyalties ahead of future electoral cycles and may impact legislative strategies and coalition building in the National Assembly. The official letters of defection are now with the Senate President, completing the formal process.
