Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced on Wednesday the defection of four senators from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, boosting APC’s Senate strength to 70 seats and underscoring the ruling party’s growing dominance .
During plenary, Akpabio read the senators’ letters citing “protracted internal crises” within the PDP and the need for unity to advance national development under President Tinubu’s agenda. Two defectors hailed from Osun State and two from Akwa Ibom State, shifting the Senate’s composition amid party realignments ahead of the 2027 elections .
PDP leaders decried the defections as betrayal, accusing APC of poaching and highlighting their own determination to rebuild the opposition. Civil-society observers warned that such mass defections threaten legislative checks and balances and weaken policy scrutiny.
Analysts say the defections reflect both APC’s consolidation of power and PDP’s internal turmoil, noting that with 70 senators, the ruling party can push key bills and constitutional amendments with far less resistance. They predict this shift will expedite Tinubu’s reform package but risk stoking concerns about one-party overreach.
Looking ahead, the Senate is poised to accelerate legislative action on the national budget and reforms, while PDP must urgently shore up its ranks to remain a credible opposition. With the next general election on the horizon, control of the Senate will be a crucial lever for implementing or obstructing key policies.
