Nine senators from different political parties on Thursday formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a development that further reshapes the political composition of the Senate.
The lawmakers who announced their switch include Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Lawal Usman (Kaduna Central), Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), and Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory).
Their letters of defection were read on the floor of the Senate during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Explaining his decision in the letter read before the chamber, Nwoye cited internal disputes and ongoing litigation within the Labour Party as reasons for leaving the party.
“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 said.
Following the announcement, Akpabio welcomed the lawmakers to their new party but dismissed claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind the defections.
He noted that the lawmakers were leaving different opposition parties, including the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), adding that the defections reflected internal challenges within those parties.
“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,” Akpabio said.
The latest defections underscore the ongoing political realignments within the 10th Senate, where lawmakers have continued to switch allegiances amid leadership disputes and factional divisions in several opposition parties.
With the new development, the APC maintains a dominant majority with 87 senators, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been reduced to seven members.
The ADC, strengthened by the influx of lawmakers, now also has seven senators in the chamber.
Other minority parties in the Senate include the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), APGA, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), each with one senator, bringing the total number of senators to 106.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party and the Social Democratic Party currently have no representation in the Senate following the latest defections.
Earlier, Tambuwal confirmed that his decision to leave the PDP was influenced by internal crisis and leadership disagreements within the party. In a statement shared on his X handle, the former governor said the divisions had weakened the unity and direction that once defined the party.
He added that joining the ADC was part of a broader effort to support a political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness, and a commitment to national development.
Political analysts say the latest wave of defections reflects increasing political repositioning among lawmakers ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties seek stronger alliances and clearer political direction.