Four members of the Senate on Wednesday announced their defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in a move that further strengthens the numerical strength of the ruling party in the upper legislative chamber.
The defections were announced shortly after plenary resumed following the Senate’s short recess, drawing attention from lawmakers and observers within the chamber.
The senators who defected include Amos Yohanna representing Adamawa North, Aminu Abbas representing Adamawa Central, Aliyu Bilbis representing Zamfara North, and Ipalibo Banigo representing Rivers West.
Their letters of defection were read on the floor of the Senate during plenary by the Senate leadership, formally notifying the chamber of their decision to leave the PDP.
The lawmakers cited internal divisions and unresolved leadership crises within the PDP as major reasons for their decision to join the APC.
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The defections are expected to further tilt the balance of power in favour of the APC in the Senate, where the ruling party already commands a majority. Political analysts say the development may also have implications for party alignments ahead of future political contests.
The move comes amid ongoing political realignments within the National Assembly and across several states, as parties reposition ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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