SENATE
Bolatito Mercy
Nine Nigerian senators have defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape. The senators, who were previously members of different parties, announced their decision to join the ADC, citing various reasons, including internal party conflicts and a desire to contribute to the country’s development.
The defectors include Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto State, Eyinnaya Abaribe from Abia, Binos Yaroe from Adamawa, Victor Umeh from Anambra, Tony Nwonye from Anambra, Lawal Usman from Kaduna, Ogoshi Onawo from Nasarawa, Augustine Akobundu from Abia, and Ireti Kingibe from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) .
Senator Aminu Tambuwal attributed his defection to persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements, and divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Similarly, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe cited his desire to rescue and deepen Nigeria’s democratic system as the reason for his defection.
The defection has boosted the ADC’s representation in the Senate, with the party now having nine senators. The All Progressives Congress (APC) retains a dominant majority with 87 senators, while the PDP has dwindled to seven members.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, welcomed the defectors, dismissing suggestions that the APC was responsible for the wave of defections. He attributed the defections to internal party conflicts and praised the senators for choosing to join the ADC.
The ADC has been positioning itself as a major opposition party, with notable figures like Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, joining the party. Obi’s defection has been seen as a significant boost to the ADC’s momentum.
The defections have sparked reactions from various stakeholders, with some accusing the APC of orchestrating the moves to weaken opposition parties. However, the APC has denied these allegations, insisting that the defections are driven by internal party conflicts .
The impact of the defections on Nigeria’s political landscape remains to be seen, but it is clear that the ADC is gaining traction as a viable opposition party.
