The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday stirred reactions in the National Assembly after describing the African Democratic Congress as “dead” amid a fresh wave of defections by lawmakers.
Akpabio made the remark during plenary while presiding over proceedings, shortly after the Senate announced the defection of some members to other political parties, including the Nigerian Democratic Congress and the Labour Party.
Reacting to the growing trend, the Senate President, in a light-hearted tone, suggested that the frequency of defections had become excessive, joking that lawmakers should submit their movements collectively rather than in piecemeal announcements.
“Maybe those defecting should compile everything in one document and present it at once, so we don’t keep making repeated announcements. I think the ADC is already dead,” he said, drawing mixed reactions from lawmakers.
He further questioned the rate at which some legislators switch political allegiance, noting humorously that while defection is typically expected once within a period, some members had changed parties multiple times within a short span.
Akpabio proposed a more coordinated approach to announcing defections to avoid what he described as a routine exercise on the floor of the chamber.
During the session, he also read a defection letter from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, highlighting his movement across different political parties over time.
The development comes amid a broader political realignment in the National Assembly, with several lawmakers recently leaving the ADC, citing internal crises and protracted legal disputes within the party.
Among those who have exited the party is Senator Victor Umeh, who attributed his decision to persistent leadership disagreements and unresolved litigation, which he said made continued membership untenable.
“I remain committed to contributing to national development, but now from a different political platform,” Umeh stated in his letter.
Similarly, the House of Representatives has recorded mass defections, with at least 16 members announcing their exit from the ADC to the NDC during plenary earlier in the day.
The wave of defections has intensified speculation about the stability of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, as political actors continue to realign across platforms.
