Nine Senators Dump PDP, LP, APGA for ADC in Major Senate Shake-Up

Nine senators drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party Nigeria (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Thursday defected to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), signaling a fresh political realignment in Nigeria’s Senate.

Their letters of defection were read during plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

In his letter, Senator Tony Nwoye, who represented Anambra North under the Labour Party, cited internal disputes and multiple court cases within the party as the reason for his exit.

“I wish to tender my resignation amid the ongoing multiple litigations within the Labour Party, which have significantly affected the cohesion and stability of the party,” he wrote.

“Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest esteem and regards.”

Reacting 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 development.

“Deputy Senate President and Leader of the Senate, I hope you noticed that I have read defections from three different political parties now. So you cannot accuse the ruling party of tampering with its leadership,” he said.

“Here we have APGA, Labour and others. They are all out to ensure that we have what you call a minority status in this chamber, and I am very proud of them.”

The senators who defected are:

Ireti Kingibe – FCT (LP to ADC)

Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo – Nasarawa South (PDP to ADC)

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal – Sokoto South (PDP to ADC)

Binos Dauda Yaroe – Adamawa South (PDP to ADC)

Austin Akobundu – Abia Central (PDP to ADC)

Enyinnaya Abaribe – Abia South (APGA to ADC)

Victor Umeh – Anambra Central (LP to ADC)

Tony Nwoye – Anambra North (LP to ADC)

Senator Lawal Adamu Usman – Kaduna Central (PDP to ADC)

The defections highlight the ongoing political shifts in the 10th Senate, as internal disputes continue to weaken some opposition parties.

With the development, the APC still maintains a commanding majority with 87 senators, while the PDP has been reduced to seven members.

The ADC, strengthened by the new entrants, now has nine senators in the chamber.

Other minority parties include APGA, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), each with one senator, bringing the total membership of the Senate to 106.

Following the latest defections, both the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party Nigeria (SDP) currently have no representation in the upper legislative chamber.