At a stirring plenary that underscored the deepening disaster inside Nigeria’s opposition events, 10 senators introduced their defection to African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) immediately altering the steadiness throughout the minority bloc and positioning ADC as the brand new important opposition platform within the senate.
Those that moved to ADC included former Sokoto State Governor and ex-Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Senator Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), and Senator Victor Umeh(Anambra Central).
Others have been additionally Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North); Senator Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central); Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South); Senator Augustine Akobundu(Abia Central); Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT); and Senator BinosYaroe (Adamawa South).
The letter by Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), who lately left Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a celebration he based, was additionally learn at plenary.
A lot of the defectors cited deep inner disaster, management disputes, and protracted litigations inside their former events as causes for his or her determination.
Tambuwal, within the letter asserting his resignation from PDP, lamented what he described as extended inner divisions that had eroded the cohesion of the once-dominant opposition celebration.
“The persistent inner disaster, management disagreements, litigations and divisions throughout the celebration at numerous ranges have made it more and more tough for me to proceed my lively participation and dedication as a member of the PeoplesDemocratic Occasion,” he wrote.
Equally, Kingibe blamed her exit from Labour Occasion (LP) on unresolved management conflicts.
“This determination has turn into inevitable as a result of protracted and seemingly irreconcilable disaster throughout the Labour Occasion,” she mentioned.
Nonetheless, the senate, on Thursday, gave Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, from Abia South, seven days to justify his defection from All Progressives Grand Alli-ance (APGA) or threat shedding his seat, a remedy completely totally different from what was prolonged to others.
However what started as a routine announcement of defections shortly changed into a constitutional showdown when lawmakers challenged the legality of Abaribe’s transfer from APGA.
The stress-filled trade pressured Senate President Godswill Akpabio to situation an ultimatum to the outspoken Abia lawmaker, saying he should produce proof inside one week to show that he was expelled from APGA, or threat shedding his seat within the Nationwide Meeting.
The dramatic developments unfolded shortly after Akpabio learn letters from the defecting senators throughout plenary.
The seemingly calm ambiance within the chamber shifted abruptly when Abaribe’s defection letter was learn.
In contrast to others who cited divisions inside their events as justification for defecting, Abaribe made no such declare relating to APGA, an omission that instantly drew consideration on the ground.
Sensing a constitutional breach, senators shortly invoked Part 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Structure, which stipulates {that a} legislator should vacate his seat if he defects from the political celebration that sponsored his election until the celebration was divided.
Performing on the directive of the senate president, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin (Kano North) scrutinised the letters of defection and raised a robust objection to Abaribe’s transfer.
“Mr President, having examined the letters forwarded to you and browse on the ground, I noticed that one of many events, APGA, from which Senator Abaribe defected just isn’t engulfed in any disaster or division on the nationwide stage.
“Abaribe’s defection, as clearly said in Part 68(1)(g) of the structure, is in opposition to the provisions of the regulation and warrants acceptable motion relating to the Abia South senatorial seat,” he mentioned.
The intervention triggered murmurs throughout the chamber and ignited a spirited debate amongst senators over the constitutional implications of the defection.
Responding, Abaribe rose to defend his motion, insisting that his case was distinctive as a result of he had already been expelled from APGA months earlier.
The Abia South rating senator mentioned, “I’m a lawyer. This part of the structure doesn’t handle a scenario the place an individual is sacked from his celebration. I used to be sacked from APGA in September 2025 and I’ve the letter right here.”
However the declare failed to instantly persuade the senate management.
It was at this level that Akpabio identified that the senate had not obtained any official documentation confirming the alleged expulsion.
“You’ve gotten confirmed that you’re not leaving due to division however since you declare to have been sacked. The senate just isn’t conscious of that. We don’t have proof earlier than us,” he mentioned.
Senate Chief, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), additional difficult the matter by arguing that if Abaribe was really expelled from his celebration, the structure may nonetheless require him to vacate his seat.
In keeping with him, Part 68(1)(b) may equally apply if circumstances arose that may ordinarily disqualify a lawmaker from contesting an election.
Following intense consultations, Akpabio dominated that the senate would give Abaribe one week to submit documentary proof proving that APGA, certainly, expelled him.
The senate president mentioned, “Allow us to give Senator Abaribe one week to supply proof of his dismissal. If such proof just isn’t supplied, the senate will take additional motion in keeping with the structure.”
Regardless of the uproar, the defections considerably altered the configuration of opposition forces within the senate.
With 9 members now in its fold, ADC overtook PDP, which had been diminished to seven senators, to turn into the main opposition celebration within the chamber.
Nonetheless, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nonetheless maintained a commanding dominance with 87 of the 109 seats, making certain it retained the numbers required to move laws and form the senate’s agenda.
Three seats – Nasarawa North, Enugu North and Rivers South East – stay vacant following the deaths of the senators who beforehand occupied them.
Thursday’s dramatic session may sign the start of a broader realignment inside Nigeria’s opposition politics forward of the subsequent electoral cycle.
12 Lawmakers Defect to ADC, APC
Twelve members of Home of Representatives introduced their defection from PDP, LP, and Younger Progressives Occasion (YPP) to APC and ADC.
The lawmakers, whose defections have been introduced on the ground of the Home by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, at plenary, cited irreconcilable variations as the rationale for his or her defection.
Hon. James Barka, Hon. Laori Bitrus, Hon. Zakaria Nyampa, Hon. Kobis Thimnu, Hon. Midala Balami from Borno State, and Hon. Mohammed Bargaja from Sokoto State defected from PDP to APC.
Hon. Peter Uzokwe moved from YPP to ADC, whereas Hon. AfamOgene, Hon. Peter Aniekwe and Hon. Lilian Obageli Orogbudefected from LP to ADC.
Equally, Hon. Jessey Okei Onakalusi from Lagos State and Hon. Murphy Omoruyi Osaro from Edo State moved from LP to ADC.
Atiku’s Son, Adamu Abubakar, Quits PDP
Adamu Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, resigned his membership of PDP with fast impact. This was contained in a resignation letter dated March 4, 2026, and addressed to Chairman of PDP in Jada 1 Ward.
Abubakar introduced his determination to step down from the celebration, expressing appreciation to the ward management and members for his or her help through the years.
He mentioned, in his resignation letter to the ward chairman of Jada JadaWard 1,, “I hereby formally resign my membership of the PeoplesDemocratic Occasion (PDP) at Jada 1 Ward with fast impact.”
He thanked the celebration for the chance to serve and requested that his resignation be communicated to the suitable authorities.
He added, “I sincerely respect the chance to have served and the help prolonged to me by the ward management and members through the years.
“Kindly settle for this as my official discover and talk similar to the suitable authorities.”
He didn’t disclose the celebration he was going subsequent.
Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade
Times Nigeria