Senate President Godswill Akpabio has mocked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) during Tuesday’s plenary.He declared the party “effectively dead” amid a wave of defections that has rattled the National Assembly.
His remarks followed a steady stream of resignation letters from lawmakers abandoning the ADC for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Labour Party (LP), signalling a major political realignment.
As clerks read out the names of defecting legislators, Akpabio struck a light-hearted but pointed tone, suggesting the frequency of defections had become routine and time-consuming.
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He joked that lawmakers should simply submit their defections in bulk to avoid repeated announcements, drawing laughter across the chamber.
He went further, questioning how often politicians could realistically switch allegiances, noting wryly that some had done so multiple times within a single month.
Among the most notable moves, Victor Umeh joined the NDC, blaming persistent internal crises and protracted legal battles within the ADC for his decision to leave.
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Defection
Akpabio also drew attention to the political journey of Enyinnaya Abaribe, highlighting his transitions across parties, from APGA to ADC, and now to the Labour Party, underscoring the fluid nature of current political alignments.
The wave of exits extended beyond the Senate.
In the House of Representatives, at least 16 members reportedly dumped the ADC for the NDC, further weakening the party’s standing in the National Assembly.
The defectors included lawmakers such as Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi and Lilian Orogbu, names that reflect the breadth of the shift across the Green Chamber.
The growing exodus has left the ADC struggling to maintain relevance, as internal divisions continue to erode its base. What was once seen as a viable third-force platform now faces an uncertain future.
Even as he joked about the situation, Akpabio advised lawmakers still considering defection to present their moves in coordinated lists, an acknowledgement that the political reshuffle may not be over yet.
