The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be in a state of rapid decline in the Senate, losing three more of its members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday
This development comes just 24 hours after another senator abandoned the party, leaving the once-formidable opposition with a drastically reduced caucus in the upper legislative chamber.
The latest lawmakers to cross the aisle are Amos Yohanna, Aminu Iya Abbas, and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis.
Their defection was formally announced on the floor of the Senate during plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who read out their letters of resignation from the PDP.
In their correspondence to the Senate President, the trio cited the “lingering internal crisis” within the PDP as the primary motivation for their departure.
They pointed to persistent leadership disputes, factional divisions, and endless litigation that have plagued the party, arguing that these issues have crippled its ability to function as a cohesive unit.
According to the defectors, the instability back home made it difficult to effectively represent the interests of their constituents.
“Given the prevailing internal divisions and protracted leadership disputes and ongoing litigation within the leadership of my former party, which have adversely affected my position, I am convinced that the All Progressives Congress offers a more stable and progressive platform,” part of the letters read.
With these exits, the PDP’s representation in the 109-seat Senate has now plummeted to just 19 senators. In contrast, the ruling APC has further tightened its grip on the National Assembly, swelling its numbers to 83 lawmakers and solidifying its legislative dominance in the 10th Assembly.
The mass movement began on Tuesday with the defection of Ipalibo Banigo, a former Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
Banigo, who cited the need to align with the political structure in Rivers State—including Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara—also praised the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Her departure meant that all three senatorial seats in Rivers State are now controlled by the APC, following the earlier moves of the late Barinada Mpigi and Allwell Onyesoh.
Following the latest wave of political realignments, the party composition in the Senate now stands at: APC 83, PDP 19, with the remaining seats shared by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
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