ABUJA — The All Progressives Congress (APC) has tightened its hold on the 10th Senate, boosting its seat count from 66 to 70 following the defection of four senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Wednesday, read letters from Senators Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and Sampson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South), formally announcing their switch to the ruling party.
The defecting senators cited the deepening crisis within the PDP, including internal divisions, leadership tussles, and protracted court cases, as their reasons for leaving. They described the situation as destabilising and counterproductive to national progress.
Senator Bassey pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that he was drawn by the APC’s inclusive and development-oriented policies. Senator Fadahunsi also said the lack of unity and trust within the PDP left him no choice but to realign with the APC.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele welcomed the defections, expressing delight over the growing confidence in the APC’s leadership. He congratulated President Tinubu, the defectors, and party stakeholders for the development, which he said further reinforced the party’s responsibility to deliver on its promises.
“This is not just about numbers. It’s a call to work harder to ensure Nigerians enjoy a better lease of life,” Bamidele stated during the session.
The defections have further depleted the PDP’s strength in the Senate, shrinking its representation from 36 members at the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023 to 28. The Labour Party now holds five seats, down from eight; the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) has one; the Social Democratic Party (SDP) holds two; and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) retains one seat.
Two seats — Edo Central and Anambra South — remain vacant, pending by-elections to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
With 70 seats now under its control, the APC is just three short of the two-thirds majority (73 seats) required to make sweeping legislative decisions, including constitutional amendments, without bipartisan support.
