BREAKING: Four PDP Senators Dump Party for APC as Senate Majority Swells to 72

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday formally welcomed four senators who have defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that significantly increases the APC’s majority in the upper chamber.

The defectors include Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), Senator Etim Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), and Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central).

In a show of political strength, the Senate temporarily suspended its standard rules to allow the presence of high-profile APC officials, including the party’s National Secretary, the Osun State APC Chairman, several members of the House of Representatives, and former Minister Chris Ngige, who were all on hand to witness the ceremony in the chamber.

With these latest defections, the APC now holds 72 seats in the 10th Senate, an increase from the 50 seats the party secured at the start of the current Assembly in June 2023.

Meanwhile, the PDP’s representation has dropped to 26 seats, following continued defections from not only its members but also lawmakers from the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Reacting to the development, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the defections were a reflection of democratic maturity.

“For us, it is not just about the numbers. We have a serious job ahead to ensure that members and stakeholders remain committed to the ideals of our party. We are doing everything possible to move Nigeria to the next level, and we do not take this momentum for granted,” Bamidele stated.

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