The African Democratic Congress has emerged as the main opposition force in the Senate after nine senators dumped their former parties to join the platform, weakening the Peoples Democratic Party’s hold on the opposition bench.
At Thursday’s plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read letters from nine lawmakers who defected from the PDP, Labour Party and APGA to the ADC.
They cited internal crises, leadership disputes and the need to strengthen democracy as reasons for their move.
Those who switched include Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Ireti Kingibe, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Binos Yar’Adua, Tony Nwoye, Lawal Adamu Usman, Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, Augustine Akobundu and Victor Umeh. With the development, ADC now holds nine seats in the Senate, while PDP has dropped to six, making ADC the new main opposition bloc after the ruling APC.
The defections triggered heated exchanges, especially over Abaribe’s move from APGA. Senate leaders questioned whether his seat should be declared vacant under constitutional provisions that restrict defection without a division in one’s original party. Akpabio gave him one week to either withdraw his letter or offer stronger legal justification.
In the House of Representatives, 12 lawmakers also changed parties, deepening the ongoing political realignment ahead of 2027.
