In a stunning political development that has sent shockwaves through the National Assembly, nine prominent Senators from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on the floor of the Senate chambers today.
The mass defection, which took place during Tuesday’s plenary session, marks one of the largest single-day migrations of lawmakers in recent legislative history, significantly boosting the ADC’s strength in the Red Chamber.
The Full List of Defectors
The group of defectors includes former governors, high-ranking minority leaders, and veteran lawmakers:
- Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South) — Formerly PDP
- Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) — Formerly APGA
- Sen. Ireti Kingibe (FCT) — Formerly LP
- Sen. Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) — Formerly LP
- Sen. Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) — Formerly LP
- Sen. Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central) — Formerly PDP
- Sen. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South) — Formerly PDP
- Sen. Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South) — Formerly PDP
- Sen. Austin Akobundu (Abia Central) — Formerly PDP
A Shift in Power Dynamics
The loss is particularly heavy for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which lost five members in this sweep, and the Labour Party (LP), which lost three of its most influential voices, including the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe. APGA also lost its sole presence in the Senate with the departure of Senator Abaribe.
The move by Senator Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Governor of Sokoto State, is seen as a major blow to the PDP’s national structure. Similarly, the departure of veteran lawmakers like Abaribe and Umeh signals a significant realignment of interests in the South-East geopolitical zone.
Reasons for the Move
While the defecting Senators cited various reasons in their formal letters read by the Senate President, the overarching themes were “internal party divisions” and the need for a “formidable alternative platform” to address national challenges.
The ADC, which previously held a marginal presence in the National Assembly, has now overnight become a major “Third Force” in the Senate. Political analysts suggest that this mass movement may be the beginning of a larger merger or coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reaction from the Senate
The Senate President acknowledged the letters of defection, officially updating the chamber’s records. Following the announcement, the new ADC caucus was seen exchanging hearty cheers on the floor, while the remaining members of the PDP and LP caucuses appeared visibly diminished by the sudden exit of their colleagues.
With this move, the ADC now holds a strategic position that could influence the passage of bills and the formation of Senate committees moving forward.
