The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, July 23, received a major boost in the Senate as four lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially switched sides.
The senators, Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), Etim Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), and Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), formally announced their defection during plenary, increasing the APC’s numbers in the red chamber.
To mark the moment, the Senate suspended its usual rules, allowing prominent APC leaders into the chamber.
Among them were APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, Osun APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal, former Minister of Labour Chris Ngige, and several members of the House of Representatives, all present to witness the shift in party alignment.
With the latest defections, the APC now commands 70 of the 109 Senate seats, a significant rise from the 50 seats it held when the 10th Assembly began in June 2023.
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On the flip side, the PDP’s numbers have dropped to 28, weakened not only by Wednesday’s losses but also by earlier defections from both the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele welcomed the new members to the APC and called the shift a sign of democratic health.
“For us, it is not just about the numbers,” Bamidele said. “We have a serious job ahead to ensure that members and stakeholders remain committed to the ideals of our party.
“We are doing everything possible to move Nigeria to the next level, and we do not take this momentum for granted.”