President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has reacted to the growing wave of defections in the National Assembly, joking that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is effectively “dead” following the exit of several lawmakers.
Akpabio made the remark during plenary while presiding over proceedings, shortly after the Senate announced fresh defections, including that of Victor Umeh, who moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing internal crises and prolonged litigation within the ADC.
Speaking in a lighthearted tone, the Senate President suggested that lawmakers should streamline how defections are announced on the floor, noting that frequent individual declarations were becoming excessive.
He also referenced the movement of Enyinnaya Abaribe, pointing out his transitions across parties over time, including his latest move from the ADC to the Labour Party.
The comments come amid a broader political realignment within the National Assembly, where no fewer than 16 members of the House of Representatives have also defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Among those affected are lawmakers including Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, and Lilian Orogbu, among others, reflecting a shifting political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In his resignation letter, Umeh attributed his decision to “lingering divisions in leadership and unending litigation” within the ADC, stating that the situation had made continued membership in the party untenable.
He added that he remains committed to contributing to national development, now through the NDC, as political actors continue to reposition ahead of the next election cycle.
