APC Tightens Grip On NASS With 87 Senators, 261 Reps

As Six Opposition Lawmakers Defect ADC Gets 9 Senators, 6 Reps

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has further consolidated its dominance in the National Assembly following fresh defections in the House of Representatives, raising its number in the chamber to 261 members.

With the latest development, the APC now controls about 87 seats in the Senate and 261 seats in the House of Representatives, strengthening its majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and widening the gap between the ruling party and opposition parties.

The increase in the party’s strength in the lower chamber followed the defection of six lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC during plenary yesterday.

The lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC are James Barka (Adamawa), Kwamoti Bitrus Laori (Adamawa), Zakaria Nyampa (Adamawa), Kobis Thimnu (Adamawa), Midala Balami (Borno), and Mohammed Bargaja (Sokoto).

Their defection raises APC’s strength in the 360-member House from 245 to 261 lawmakers, further cementing the party’s legislative dominance in the lower chamber.

In another development, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) also recorded gains in the House as six lawmakers from opposition parties defected to the party.

Those who joined the ADC include Afam Victor Ogene (LP, Anambra), Peter Anekwe (YPP, Anambra), Lilian Orogbu (LP, Anambra), Jessey Onakalusi (LP, Lagos), Murphy Osaro Omoruyi (LP, Edo), and one other member from the opposition bloc.

With the latest development, the ADC now has nine senators in the Senate and six members in the House of Representatives, indicating the party’s growing presence in the National Assembly.

The lawmakers, in their separate letters presented by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over plenary, cited internal crises and irreconcilable differences within their parties as reasons for their defections.

Kalu also disclosed that some other lawmakers had written to the leadership of the House notifying it of their intention to leave their present political parties.

He, however, said the letters and the destination parties of the lawmakers would not be disclosed in their absence, explaining that the House leadership would only read such letters when the concerned lawmakers are physically present during plenary.

In an exclusive interview with Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South) shortly after plenary, he queried the legality of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s (Abia South) defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Adaramodu explained that the Senate rigorously evaluates each defection based on constitutional and procedural guidelines.

“We use the Constitution, our rule books, and official records to validate every defection. Once a senator proves that the defection is genuine and constitutionally compliant, the Senate accepts it,” he said.

He added that the current wave of senators joining progressive platforms, particularly the APC, reflects a desire among lawmakers to align with parties promoting faster development and national progress.

“We are seeing a trend where people want progress at a jet speed, and they are gravitating toward parties that can deliver that vision,” he said.

Adaramodu noted that while some senators are still evaluating their political alignments, there is no cause for alarm, adding that the Senate continues to monitor all defections in accordance with constitutional provisions and legislative procedures.

Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that four opposition lawmakers on Wednesday defected to the APC, while one member of the PDP moved to the Accord Party, signalling a continuing wave of defections in the National Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections.