A wave of political defections caused drama in the National Assembly during plenary, as several lawmakers switched parties across both chambers. Eight senators from minority parties defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), one senator joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), while 21 members of the House of Representatives moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The development triggered intense debate in the Senate over constitutional provisions guiding party defections.
Tension rose when Senate President Godswill Akpabio questioned the defection of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the ADC. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin argued that Abaribe’s action violated Section 68(1)(b) and (g) of the 1999 Constitution because APGA was not facing any known internal crisis that would justify the move.
In response, Abaribe told the Senate that he had been expelled from APGA in September 2025, leaving him without a political platform and forcing him to join another party. However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the claim of expulsion could still mean Abaribe should vacate his seat under the same constitutional provisions. Akpabio later ruled that the Senate would study the legal implications and gave Abaribe one week to withdraw his defection letter or provide stronger justification.
Other senators who defected to the ADC include Binos Yaroe, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, Lawal Adamu Usman, Mohammed Onawo, Austin Akobundu and Ireti Kingibe. Senator Seriake Dickson also formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the NDC. Following the defections, the Senate composition now stands at 87 members for the APC, nine for the ADC, seven for the PDP, and one each for APGA, NNPP and NDC, with three seats currently vacant.
In the House of Representatives, several lawmakers from the PDP, Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and NNPP also defected to the APC and ADC, citing internal crises within their former parties. Meanwhile, the ADC denied reports that Senator Ireti Kingibe had been suspended, describing the claims as false and insisting that disciplinary actions in the party follow established constitutional procedures.
