Defections: Senate Minority Leader, Wadada, Yaro join APC

​By Haruna Salami

​The Nigerian Senate witnessed a major political realignment on Tuesday as the Minority Leader and two other senators formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers cited deepening internal divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a desire to align with a more stable political direction as reasons for their exit.
​The defections were announced during plenary when Senate President Godswill Akpabio read separate letters submitted by the lawmakers, formally notifying the chamber of their resignation from their respective political parties.
​The most significant move was that of the Senate Minority Leader, Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), who officially dumped the PDP. In his letter, Senator Ngwu stated that his decision was informed by “deepening political instability” within the PDP, which he claimed had hampered his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
​Joining him in the move to the APC was Senator Anthony Yaro (Gombe South), who also resigned from the PDP.
​Additionally, Senator Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa West) formally submitted his notification of defection, confirming his shift from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the APC.
Wadada explained that while the decision was made in August of last year, he had delayed the formal Senate notification to ensure all procedural considerations and stakeholder consultations were completed.
​Following the announcements, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) commended the Senate President, attributing the wave of defections to Akpabio’s leadership style and the stability of the 10th Senate.
Oshiomhole added that the influx of lawmakers into the APC reflects growing confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
​In his response, Senate President Akpabio reiterated his commitment to unity, stressing that legislative responsibilities must transcend partisan lines.
​“Once you are in the Senate, the center is the center,” Akpabio remarked, urging members to prioritize national interest over party affiliations.
​​The latest defections further solidify the APC’s numerical dominance in the upper chamber.
The Senate’s opposition bloc has now been reduced to 16 senators, currently distributed as follows:African Democratic Congress (ADC)(10); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (4);Accord Party (1); New Democratic Congress (NDC) (1); and Social Democratic Party (SDP) (0).
This significant shift highlights the ongoing political realignments within the National Assembly as lawmakers continue to reposition themselves amid the country’s changing party dynamics heading toward 2027.