Nine Nigerian senators have defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reshaping the country’s political landscape. The senators, representing various parties, announced their decision to join ADC on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
The defectors include Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South) from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South) from PDP, Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) from Labour Party (LP), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) from LP, Lawal Usman (Kaduna Central) from PDP, Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South) from PDP, Austin Akobundu (Abia Central) from PDP, and Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory) from LP.
Senator Nwoye cited internal crises within the Labour Party as his reason for leaving, stating, “I wish to tender my resignation amid the ongoing multiple litigations within the Labour Party, which have significantly affected the cohesion and stability of the party”.
Abaribe, in his letter, expressed his commitment to rescuing and deepening Nigeria’s democratic system. Tambuwal attributed his defection to persistent internal crises and leadership disagreements within the PDP.
The defection has sparked controversy, with some senators questioning Abaribe’s move, given the lack of crisis in APGA. Senate President Godswill Akpabio has given Abaribe until the next sitting to reconsider his decision.
The ADC now has seven senators, positioning it as a key minority bloc in the Senate. The All Progressives Congress (APC) retains a dominant majority with 87 senators, while the PDP has seven members.
The latest defections highlight ongoing political realignments in Nigeria, with lawmakers switching parties amid internal disputes. The move is seen as a significant shift in the opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
