Nine senators on Thursday announced their formal defection from their respective political parties to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The lawmakers are:
Aminu Tambuwal – Sokoto South
Enyinnaya Abaribe – Abia South
Binos Yaroe – Adamawa South
Victor Umeh – Anambra Central
Tony Nwoye – Anambra North
Adamu Lawal Usman – Kaduna Central
Austin Akobundu – Abia Central
Ireti Kingibe – FCT
Ogoshi Onawo – Nasarawa South
Of the nine defectors, five senators left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, three defected from the Labour Party, LP, while one senator dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
Those who left the PDP are Senators Binos Yaroe, Adamu Lawal Usman, Ogoshi Onawo, Aminu Tambuwal, Austin Akobundu and Seriake Dickson.
The Labour Party defectors are Senators Ireti Kingibe, Victor Umeh, and Tony Nwoye, while Enyinnaya Abaribe defected from APGA.
In separate letters read at the plenary by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, the lawmakers cited persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements, litigations, and deep divisions within their parties as reasons for their defection, noting that these challenges had made it increasingly difficult for them to continue their active participation and commitment.
However, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe stated in his letter that his decision was in line with a collective resolve to rescue and deepen the democratic system in Nigeria.
Senator Binos Yaroe said his decision to align with the ADC was driven by his determination to join other patriotic Nigerians to ensure that Nigeria remains a multi-party democracy and cannot be turned into a one-party state.
Senator Seriake Dickson representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in his letter announced that he had left the PDP and founded the Nigeria Democratic Congress as the National Leader.
With the development, the latest party configuration in the Senate is as follows:
- APC – 87
- ADC – 9
- PDP – 7
- APGA – 1
- NDC – 1
- NNPP – 1
- SDP – 0
- LP – 0
Total number of Senators: 106
Vacant Seats: 3