The Senate witnessed a significant political shift on Wednesday as four senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This development marks another blow to the dwindling ranks of the PDP in the upper legislative chamber.
The defections were officially acknowledged during Wednesday’s plenary session, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the individual letters submitted by the lawmakers declaring their switch in party allegiance.
The defecting senators include: Senator Francis Fadahunsi from Osun State
Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi also from Osun State
Senator Akon Eyakenyi Samson from Akwa Ibom State
Senator Aniekan Bassey from Akwa Ibom State
Their decision to exit the PDP was reportedly motivated by internal conflicts within the party, a breakdown in leadership cohesion, and the perceived need to align more closely with the prevailing political climate in their respective constituencies.
In what appeared to be a coordinated political statement, the senators cited irreconcilable differences and diminishing prospects for effective governance under the PDP umbrella, saying that aligning with the APC would better position them to meet the expectations of their constituents.
In a show of party solidarity, several senior APC figures were present in the chamber to witness the proceedings. Among them were the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; and other APC members from the House of Representatives.
With the latest defections, the APC has now further solidified its dominance in the Red Chamber. The party currently holds 70 seats, significantly ahead of the PDP, which has now been reduced to 28 senators.
Other minority parties represented in the Senate include the Labour Party (LP) with 5 seats, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with 2 seats, and one senator each representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Additionally, two Senate seats remain vacant—one representing Edo Central Senatorial District and the other for Anambra South Senatorial District—awaiting the conduct of by-elections.
This wave of defections further reflects the evolving dynamics of Nigeria’s legislative politics and the weakening influence of the PDP in the National Assembly, amid ongoing internal turmoil and defections by key figures across the country.