In a dramatic shake-up at the National Assembly, four Senators elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal crises and irreconcilable differences within their former party.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the defection letters during plenary on Wednesday and directed the Clerk of the Senate to officially document the development.
The defecting lawmakers include:
-
Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East)
-
Senator Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central)
-
Senator Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East)
-
Senator Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South)
Their exit delivers a significant blow to the PDP’s representation in the upper legislative chamber and further strengthens APC’s hold on the Senate.
Following the defections, the new composition of the 10th Senate is:
-
APC: 70 Senators
-
PDP: 28 Senators
-
Labour Party: 5
-
NNPP: 1
-
SDP: 2
-
APGA: 1
In a show of force and celebration, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, former Labour Minister Senator Chris Ngige, and members of the House of Representatives were present at the chamber in solidarity.
The wave of defections underscores the ongoing turbulence within Nigeria’s main opposition party and raises fresh questions about its cohesion and strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
