The ruling All Progressives Congress has strengthened its management of the Senate following the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing Enugu East Senatorial District, from the Labour Social gathering to the APC.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio introduced Chukwu’s defection throughout Wednesday’s plenary, bringing the APC’s tally within the higher chamber to 73 seats — a transparent two-thirds majority.
Chukwu, who changed his late brother, Oyibo Chukwu, after the 2023 normal election, attributed his defection to the lingering disaster inside the Labour Social gathering.
He stated, “The protracted disaster rocking the LP, which has led to its fractionalisation, is a improvement that’s critically affecting its members.”
His departure leaves the Labour Social gathering with simply 4 senators within the tenth Senate, with Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North) now the celebration’s solely consultant from Enugu State.
The Peoples Democratic Social gathering presently holds 28 seats, whereas the Social Democratic Social gathering and New Nigeria Peoples Social gathering have one senator every. The All Progressives Grand Alliance retains two.
Wednesday’s defection provides to a latest wave of opposition lawmakers crossing over to the ruling celebration.
Previously few months, 4 PDP senators — Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South) — joined the APC over inner crises of their celebration.
Bassey had invoked Sections 40 and 68(1)(g) of the Structure to justify his transfer.
The defections have continued to reshape the political panorama of the Senate, with observers expressing concern {that a} close to one-party dominance might weaken opposition oversight within the Nationwide Meeting.