By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
Fresh political realignments rocked the Senate on Tuesday as deepening internal crises within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) forced the defection of three prominent lawmakers, further weakening the party’s standing ahead of the 2027 general election.
The senators, Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) and Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), formally announced their exit from the ADC on the floor of the upper chamber, citing protracted leadership disputes and unresolved litigation that have destabilised the party.
While Abaribe defected to the Labour Party (LP), Umeh moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a relatively new political platform steadily gaining traction in the National Assembly.
In a related development, the Senate Minority Whip, Rufai Hanga (Kano Central), also dumped the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the NDC, further boosting the party’s numerical strength in the Red Chamber.
The defections were conveyed in separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which were read during plenary.
Abaribe, in his correspondence, attributed his decision to what he described as a “protracted and destabilising crisis” within the ADC, worsened by multiple court cases challenging the party’s leadership and legitimacy.
He warned that the lingering disputes had created uncertainty around the party’s future, making it politically unsafe for serious contenders preparing for the next electoral cycle.
Umeh echoed similar concerns, stressing that the unresolved legal battles had paralysed the party’s operations and eroded its credibility as a viable platform.
The latest exits have dealt a significant blow to the ADC, which has in recent months struggled to maintain internal cohesion amid rival claims to its national leadership and control of party structures.
Once touted as a credible third-force alternative, the ADC rose to prominence during the 2019 and 2023 election cycles by attracting reform-minded politicians and smaller political blocs. However, its fortunes have since waned due to persistent internal wrangling and factional disputes.
For the NDC, however, the defections mark another step in its gradual emergence as a potential force in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
With the addition of Umeh and Hanga, the party’s representation in the Senate has now risen from one to three members.
Its founding figure, Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), had earlier joined the party on March 31 in a dramatic shift that triggered a broader wave of political realignments.
Analysts view the NDC’s growing caucus as part of a wider trend of strategic repositioning among lawmakers ahead of 2027, as political actors seek more stable and competitive platforms.
A breakdown of the current composition of the Senate shows that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) retains a commanding majority with 88 seats, consolidating its dominance over legislative affairs.
Following the defections, the ADC’s representation has dropped to eight senators, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds four seats.
The NDC now has three senators, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Accord Party each have one seat.
In total, 105 out of the 109 Senate seats are currently occupied.
The four vacant seats—Enugu North, Nasarawa North, Rivers South East and Ondo South—remain unfilled due to a mix of deaths and appointments, including that of a former senator to a permanent position at the United Nations.
The ongoing defections underscore intensifying political manoeuvring ahead of the next general election, with internal party stability increasingly shaping lawmakers’ loyalty and decisions.
For the ADC, the loss of influential figures like Abaribe and Umeh has heightened concerns about its capacity to remain competitive nationally.
Conversely, the NDC appears to be positioning itself as an alternative platform for politicians disenchanted with crises in their former parties.
As shifting alliances continue to redefine the Senate’s political landscape, more defections are expected in the coming months as lawmakers recalibrate their strategies in anticipation of 2027.
*ADC loses 17 Reps to NDC, APC
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday lost 17 members of the House of Representatives to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a major political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defections were announced during plenary, underscoring growing realignments within the lower chamber.
Among the lawmakers who dumped the ADC for the NDC are Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, Uchenna Okonkwo, Thaddeus Attah, Lilian Orogbu and Afam Ogene, among others.
In a related development, Leke Abejide defected from the ADC to the APC during the same plenary.
The development comes barely 24 hours after Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso exited the ADC for the NDC, further strengthening what observers describe as an emerging political coalition.
Although the House did not immediately disclose reasons for the defections, the wave of exits is widely seen as part of strategic alignments ahead of 2027.
A source within the chamber said the moves reflect “ongoing consultations and repositioning by lawmakers ahead of the next electoral cycle.”
