The Nigerian Senate

The Senate on Wednesday witnessed a major political shift as four lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), boosting the APC’s majority in the upper chamber to 72 members.

The defectors are Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), Senator Etim Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), and Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central). Their defection marks a continued decline in the PDP’s strength in the Senate, which now holds just 26 seats.

To mark the significance of the development, the Senate suspended its rules to allow the presence of top APC dignitaries, including the party’s National Secretary, the Chairman of APC in Osun State, members of the House of Representatives, and former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige.

The APC, which began the 10th Senate with 50 members in June 2023, has gained momentum with defections from the PDP, the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The increasing numbers further consolidate the party’s dominance in the National Assembly.

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Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele welcomed the defectors and described the event as a testament to the evolving nature of Nigeria’s democracy. “For us, it is not just about the numbers. We have a serious job ahead to ensure that members and stakeholders remain committed to the ideals of our party,” he said.

Bamidele also emphasised the APC’s focus on national development, stating, “We are doing everything possible to move Nigeria to the next level, and we do not take this momentum for granted.”

The defections come amid ongoing political realignments across the country, signalling potential shifts ahead of the 2027 general elections.