The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday officially welcomed four senators who defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that has significantly bolstered the APC’s dominance in the upper legislative chamber.
The defecting lawmakers 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).
To mark the occasion, the Senate temporarily suspended its rules to permit the presence of several high-ranking APC officials. Among those in attendance were the APC National Secretary, the Osun State party chairman, some members of the House of Representatives, and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
With the new additions, the APC now holds 72 seats in the 10th Senate—up from 50 seats at the start of the current legislative session in June 2023. This development further weakens the opposition, with the PDP now reduced to 26 seats following multiple defections not only from its ranks but also from the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele hailed the defections as a natural reflection of Nigeria’s evolving 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. We are doing everything possible to move Nigeria to the next level, and we do not take this momentum for granted,” he said.
What you should know
The APC has gained four new senators from the PDP, bringing its total to 72 seats in the 10th Senate.
This growing majority strengthens the ruling party’s legislative influence, while the PDP continues to lose ground amid defections from within and allied parties.
