Nine Nigerian Senators Defect To ADC In Major Senate Realignment

Nine senators in the Nigerian Senate have officially defected from their respective political parties to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in what observers describe as one of the most notable political shifts in the chamber in recent months.

The defections were announced during plenary on Thursday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who read the letters submitted by the lawmakers informing the Senate of their decision to leave their former parties.

Among those who joined the ADC are Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South), Binos Dauda Yaroe (Adamawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), and Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central), all of whom previously belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Also joining the ADC are Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Tony Nwoye(Anambra North), who were elected under the Labour Party (LP). In addition, Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) left the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to join the ADC.

While reading one of the letters on the floor of the chamber, Akpabio quoted Tambuwal as attributing his defection to internal disputes within the PDP.

“The persistent internal crisis, leadership disagreements, litigations, and divisions within the party at various levels have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my active participation and commitment as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The ongoing conflicts have unfortunately weakened the unity and direction that once defined the party. Please accept this letter as a formal notice of my defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the African Democratic Congress.”

However, the Senate leadership indicated that it would examine the circumstances surrounding Abaribe’s defection. He has been given one week to reconsider his decision after questions emerged over whether his claim of being removed from APGA leadership structures in September 2025 satisfies constitutional provisions for defection without risking his Senate seat.

The latest development highlights the ongoing political realignments within the 10th Senate, where lawmakers have increasingly changed party affiliations amid internal conflicts in several opposition parties.

Following the defections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) still maintains a commanding majority with 87 senators, while the PDP’s representation has dropped to seven members.

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

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

With the latest defections, both the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) now have no representation in the Senate.