Nine senators on Thursday announced their decision to leave their various political parties and join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The lawmakers who defected are Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Adamu Lawal Usman (Kaduna Central), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory), and Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South).
Among the nine lawmakers, five left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), three defected from the Labour Party (LP), while one senator moved from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The senators who left the PDP are Binos Yaroe, Adamu Lawal Usman, Ogoshi Onawo, Aminu Tambuwal and Austin Akobundu.
Those who left the Labour Party are Ireti Kingibe, Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye, while Enyinnaya Abaribe defected from APGA.
Their letters announcing the defection were read during plenary by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
In the letters, the lawmakers said ongoing internal crises, leadership disagreements, court cases and deep divisions in their former parties made it difficult for them to continue their political activities there.
Abaribe explained that his decision was part of a broader effort to strengthen and protect Nigeria’s democratic system.
Yaroe also said his move to the ADC was motivated by the desire to work with other Nigerians to ensure that the country remains a multi-party democracy and does not become a one-party state.
Meanwhile, Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West, announced in his own letter that he had left the PDP and formed the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he now serves as the National Leader.
Following the latest changes, the party distribution in the Senate now stands as follows:
•All Progressives Congress (APC) – 87
•ADC – 9
•PDP – 7
•APGA – 1
•NDC – 1
•New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – 1
The Senate currently has 106 members, with three seats still vacant.
