A dramatic session at the National Assembly on Thursday marked a turning point in Nigeria’s opposition politics as 10 senators defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), instantly altering the composition of the minority bloc.
Among the senators who joined ADC were Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), former governor and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central), Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South), Augustine Akobundu (Abia Central), Ireti Kingibe (FCT), and Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South).
Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), founder of NDC, also had his defection letter read in plenary.
Most cited internal party crises, leadership disputes, and litigation as reasons for leaving.
Tambuwal lamented the erosion of PDP’s cohesion due to prolonged divisions, while Kingibe pointed to irreconcilable conflicts within LP.
However, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) faced a unique challenge. Unlike other defectors, he did not cite party divisions but claimed he had been expelled from APGA in September 2025.
The senate, citing Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, demanded that Abaribe provide official documentation of his expulsion within seven days or risk losing his seat.
Tensions escalated as senators debated the constitutional implications, with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele raising questions over legality.
Thursday’s defections repositioned ADC as the largest opposition party in the senate, now holding nine members compared with PDP’s seven, though APC retains a commanding majority with 87 of 109 seats.
Three seats remain vacant in Nasarawa North, Enugu North, and Rivers South East.
In a related development, 12 members of the House of Representatives defected to APC and ADC citing irreconcilable differences.
The move included Hon. James Barka, Hon. Laori Bitrus, Hon. Zakaria Nyampa, Hon. Kobis Thimnu, Hon. Midala Balami, Hon. Mohammed Bargaja, among others. Hon. Peter Uzokwe defected from YPP to ADC, while Hon. Afam Ogene, Hon. Peter Aniekwe, and Hon. Lilian Obageli Orogbu moved from LP to ADC.
Adding to the political reshuffle, Adamu Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, formally resigned from PDP with immediate effect.
In a letter dated March 4, 2026, he thanked the party leadership and requested his resignation be communicated to relevant authorities.
He did not disclose his next political platform.
Thursday’s events underscore the ongoing realignment of Nigeria’s opposition, positioning ADC as a rising force ahead of the next electoral cycle, while also highlighting the constitutional scrutiny surrounding defections in the National Assembly.
