APC Secures Two-thirds Majority In Senate As Several Senators Moves In, Amidst Internal Crisis
By Oludare Joshua
In a dominant move that further solidifies its hold on the Senate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has gained a two-thirds majority following the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu from the Labour Party to the ruling party.
The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary, revealing that the APC now holds 73 seats in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Senator Chukwu, who took over his late brother’s seat after the 2023 general election, cited the ongoing internal crisis within the Labour Party as the reason for his defection. He expressed concern that the party’s factionalization was impeding its progress and affecting its members.
With this defection, the Labour Party has been left with only four seats in the Senate, with Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North) as its sole representative from Enugu State.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) currently holds 28 seats, while the Social Democratic Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party have one senator each. The All Progressives Grand Alliance retains two.
This development comes on the heels of a string of opposition lawmakers switching to the ruling party in recent months. Four PDP senators, namely Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South), have all defected to the APC, citing internal crises within their party.
Bassey even invoked sections of the constitution to justify his move. These defections have raised concerns about the weakening of opposition oversight in the National Assembly due to the near one-party dominance.
As the APC gains a staggering majority in the Senate, it remains to be seen how this will impact policymaking and legislation. The political landscape is constantly evolving, and it is crucial for the opposition to maintain a strong and unified presence in the National Assembly to ensure checks and balances. Only time will tell how the dynamics in the Senate will unfold in the coming months.
