Defection Wave Rocks Senate as Abaribe’s Seat Hangs in the Balance

A dramatic session unfolded in the Senate on Thursday as nine senators formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), triggering intense debates over constitutional provisions and the legality of some of the moves. Among those in the spotlight is Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), whose seat now hangs in the balance following his switch from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the ADC.

The controversy centers on whether Section 68(1)(b) and (g) of the 1999 Constitution applies to Abaribe, given that he did not cite any internal division within APGA—a requirement for a lawful defection. In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Abaribe, alongside eight other senators, formally announced their move to the ADC.

The other defectors—Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Lawal Adamu (Kaduna Central), Ogoshi Onawu (Nasarawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), and Ireti Kingibe (FCT)—cited internal party crises in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) as justification for their actions.

Senate leadership, however, raised concerns over Abaribe’s defection. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (Kano North) invoked Order 20 of the Senate Standing Rules, noting that APGA was not experiencing any national crisis or division that could legally justify the senator’s switch. “One of the parties involved (APGA) from which Senator Abaribe defected is not engulfed by any crisis at the national level,” Jibrin said, arguing that Abaribe’s action may contravene constitutional provisions.

In response, Abaribe acknowledged that APGA was not divided but said he had been expelled from the party in September 2025. He explained that since the law requires senators to belong to a political party, he had no choice but to join another platform. Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) countered that the expulsion itself could constitute sufficient grounds to invoke Section 68(1)(b), potentially leading to the seat being declared vacant.

Senate President Akpabio, while stopping short of an immediate decision, gave Abaribe one week to either withdraw his defection letter or present a legal justification for his move.

Meanwhile, Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) officially defected from the PDP to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) during Thursday’s plenary, further reshaping the political dynamics in the upper chamber.

The defections have bolstered the ADC as the main opposition party in the Senate with nine members. The PDP has been reduced to seven senators, while APGA, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and NDC now have one senator each. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) maintains a commanding majority with 87 senators. Three seats—Nasarawa North, Enugu North, and Rivers South-East—remain vacant following the deaths of the previous officeholders, bringing the current total of sitting senators to 106.