ABUJA: The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday tightened its hold on the Senate following the defection of three lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), further altering the balance of power in the upper chamber.
The senators who switched allegiance are Amos Yohanna, representing Adamawa North; Aminu Abba, representing Adamawa Central; and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, representing Zamfara North.
Their separate letters announcing their departure from the PDP were read on the floor of the Senate during plenary by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
In their letters, the lawmakers attributed their decision to the protracted internal crisis rocking the PDP, which they said had eroded cohesion within the party and weakened its effectiveness as a political platform.
They lamented that persistent leadership disputes and unresolved factional battles had deepened divisions across the party’s structure, affecting both its national leadership and operational stability.
The senators explained that their defection followed extensive consultations with political associates, stakeholders and constituents across their respective senatorial districts.
They added that joining the ruling party would enable them to more effectively support the national development agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The lawmakers further cited the lingering leadership tussles, internal factionalisation and a string of court cases within the PDP as factors that had created uncertainty about the party’s future and long-term stability.
With the latest defections, the PDP’s representation in the Senate has dropped sharply to 14 members, compared with the 36 senators it had when the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated in June 2023.
The APC, on the other hand, has expanded its dominance in the chamber.
From 59 senators at the start of the current assembly, the ruling party now controls 84 seats, consolidating its clear majority in the upper legislative chamber.
Other political parties have also witnessed changes in their representation since the inauguration of the assembly.
The Labour Party, which initially had eight senators, currently has no member in the chamber.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) now has one senator, down from two at the beginning of the assembly.
Similarly, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which started with two senators, currently has none, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) retains one seat.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), which had no senator at the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, now has five members.
A newly registered political platform, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), currently has one senator in the chamber — Seriake Dickson.
At present, the Senate has 106 serving members out of the constitutionally required 109 seats.
The three vacant seats include Nasarawa North, which became vacant following the death of Godiya Akwashiki; Enugu North, after the passing of Okechukwu Ezea; and Rivers South East, which fell vacant after the death of Barinada Mpigi.
