“ADC Is Over” Akpabio Taunts Opposition Alliance Amid Wave of Defections
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stirred controversy after declaring that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) appears to have lost relevance, following a wave of defections by its members to other political platforms.
His remark came during Tuesday’s plenary session, where several defection letters were read on the Senate floor. Among those who switched parties were Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who moved to the Labour Party, and Senator Victor Umeh, who joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). Both lawmakers cited internal disputes and persistent legal battles within the ADC as reasons for their exit.
Reacting to the growing number of defections, Akpabio joked that lawmakers should consolidate their announcements instead of presenting them one after the other, describing the trend as excessive. He quipped that the frequency of party-switching was becoming almost routine, drawing laughter from fellow senators.
The Senate President also suggested adopting a more organized approach, proposing that lawmakers intending to defect should submit a collective notice to avoid repeated announcements during plenary.
While reading Abaribe’s letter, Akpabio highlighted the senator’s political journey across multiple parties over the years, humorously hinting that such movements were becoming too frequent to track individually.
The development reflects a broader political shake-up within the National Assembly. In the House of Representatives, at least 17 members have also exited the ADC for the NDC, signaling a significant shift in party alignments.
Notable among the defectors are Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, and Lilian Orogbu, among others.
In his resignation letter, Senator Umeh attributed his decision to ongoing leadership crises and unresolved court cases within the ADC, stating that the situation had made it difficult to remain in the party.
The mass movement of lawmakers continues to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of future elections.
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