RismadarVoice Reporters, March 12, 2026
Nine senators on Thursday formally announced their defection from their respective political parties to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing persistent internal crisis and leadership disputes within their former parties.
The lawmakers who joined the ADC are Senators Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Adamu Lawal Usman (Kaduna Central), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory), and Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South).
Of the defectors, five senators left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), three departed the Labour Party (LP), while one defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The PDP defectors include Senators Binos Yaroe, Adamu Lawal Usman, Ogoshi Onawo, Aminu Tambuwal and Austin Akobundu.
The Labour Party members who moved to the ADC are Senators Ireti Kingibe, Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye, while Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe defected from APGA.
Their letters announcing the defections were read during plenary by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
In the letters, the lawmakers attributed their decisions to lingering internal disputes, leadership disagreements, litigations and deep divisions that have plagued their former parties, making it difficult for them to effectively participate in party activities.
Senator Abaribe explained that his decision aligned with a broader resolve among like-minded politicians to strengthen and deepen Nigeria’s democratic system.
Similarly, Senator Binos Yaroe stated that his move to the ADC was motivated by a desire to join other “patriotic Nigerians” in preserving the country’s multi-party democratic structure and preventing a drift toward a one-party state.
In a related development, Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) announced in a separate letter that he had resigned from the PDP and established a new political platform, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where he will serve as National Leader.
Following the defections, the party composition in the Senate has changed.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) now holds 87 seats, the ADC has 9, the PDP 7, APGA 1, the NDC 1 and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 1, while the Labour Party and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have no representation.
The Senate currently has a total of 106 members, with three seats vacant.
