By Daniel Ado
ABUJA — The Nigerian Senate witnessed a fresh wave of defections on Tuesday as three lawmakers dumped their parties, further weakening the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and altering the balance of power in the Red Chamber.
Former Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, defected from the ADC to the Labour Party, citing deepening leadership and legal crises within his former party.
“My decision to resign my membership of the African Democratic Congress is effective immediately.
Accordingly, I have joined the Labour Party,” Abaribe said, attributing his exit to “well-known leadership crisis… occasioned by multiple legal issues.”
Similarly, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) also quit the ADC, but joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). His letter announcing the defection was read on the Senate floor by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
Umeh said his decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders.
“I’ve taken this decision after wide consultations with my family, my constituents, and supporters in view of the lingering divisions… in the ADC,” he said, adding that he remains committed to national development through the NDC platform.
In a related development, Senate Minority Whip, Rufai Hanga, defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the NDC, also blaming internal party crisis.
“The ongoing internal crisis, characterised by factional leadership disputes… has created an unstable political environment that makes it impracticable to effectively discharge my legislative responsibilities,” Hanga said.
He added that the move followed broad consultations and that the NDC aligns more closely with his political ideals and commitment to good governance.
With the defections of Umeh and Hanga, the NDC’s representation in the Senate has risen to three, including its founder, Seriake Dickson.
The latest realignments bring the current party composition in the Senate to: APC 88, ADC 8, PDP 4, NDC 3, APGA 1 and Accord 1 totalling 105 out of 109 seats.
The remaining four seats Enugu North, Nasarawa North, Rivers South East and Ondo South are vacant due to deaths and one appointment to a permanent position at the United Nations.
Reacting to the development, Akpabio took a swipe at the ADC, declaring that the party appears to be in terminal decline.
“Resignation from ADC and declaration for Labour Party… maybe all those defecting from ADC should just compile everything in one paper,” he said.
“Because I think ADC is dead. How many times can you defect in a month? Once. But some have done three times.”
He also suggested that future defections be announced collectively to avoid what he described as a “daily ritual” on the Senate floor.
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