Senate Reshuffle: ADC’s Nwoye Becomes Minority Whip

Senator Tony Nwoye has emerged as the new Minority Whip of the Senate following a wave of defections that has reshaped the composition of the upper chamber.

Nwoye, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, was unanimously selected by the minority caucus to take up the role.

He was initially elected into the Senate in 2023 under the platform of the Labour Party Nigeria before later defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in late 2025.

His appointment comes on the heels of the defection of his predecessor, Senator Osita Ngwu, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Ngwu explained that his decision was driven by a desire to align politically with Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also described the APC as the most stable political platform in the country.

In a related development, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, representing Gombe South, also announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, citing persistent internal crises within his former party.

Similarly, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, confirmed his move from the Social Democratic Party Nigeria (SDP) to the APC.

Wadada, who has been endorsed as the APC’s consensus governorship candidate for Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections, noted that although he had earlier joined the APC, the formalities of his defection were concluded recently.

Reacting to the developments, Senator Adams Oshiomhole commended the lawmakers for carrying out their defections peacefully and in line with constitutional provisions. He added that the growing number of defections reflects increasing confidence in the APC and the leadership of President Tinubu.

With the latest changes, the number of APC lawmakers in the Senate has risen to 91, further strengthening the party’s dominance in the chamber.