Nine senators on Thursday defected from their respective parties to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in one of the most notable political realignments in the Nigerian Senate in recent months.
The defections were announced during plenary by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who read the letters submitted by the lawmakers notifying the chamber of their decision to leave their former parties.
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 formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Others are Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) from the Labour Party (LP), as well as Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Reading one of the letters on the floor, Akpabio quoted Tambuwal as citing internal crisis within the PDP as the reason for his defection.
“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 letter read.
“The ongoing conflicts have unfortunately weakened the unity and direction that once defined the party. Please accept this letter as formal notice of my defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the African Democratic Congress.”
The Senate leadership also said the chamber would review the circumstances surrounding Abaribe’s defection, giving him one week to reconsider his position.
Questions had been raised over whether his claim of being removed from APGA leadership structures in September 2025 meets the constitutional conditions required for defection without forfeiting his seat.
With the development, the ADC has expanded its presence in the Senate.
The current composition of the chamber now stands at: All Progressives Congress (APC) – 85 senators; African Democratic Congress (ADC) – 9; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – 8; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – 1; National Democratic Coalition (NDC) – 1; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 1; and Social Democratic Party (SDP) – 1.
Three seats remain vacant following the deaths of Barinada Mpigi (Rivers South-East), Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North), and Okey Ezea (Enugu North).
The defections represent a rare shift away from the ruling APC, as recent political realignments have largely seen opposition politicians move to the governing party.
The move also comes amid growing concerns among opposition leaders that Nigeria may be drifting towards a dominant one-party system following a wave of defections by several governors and lawmakers to the APC since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.
However, Tinubu has repeatedly dismissed the claims, maintaining that Nigeria remains a multiparty democracy.
The growing visibility of the ADC is linked to an opposition coalition that adopted the party in July 2025 as a platform to challenge the APC in the 2027 general elections.
Key political figures associated with the coalition include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai and David Mark.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revised the timetable for the 2027 general elections following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
Under the new schedule, presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027 — both brought forward to avoid a clash with the Ramadan fasting period.
Party primaries will be held between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while parties are expected to submit candidate nominations between June 27 and July 11, 2026. Campaigns for national elections will commence on August 19, 2026, with the voter register to be published by December 15, 2026.
