A number of MPs defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Thursday, making it the primary opposition party in the Senate. On Thursday, nine senators declared their intention to leave their respective parties and join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
As a result, the ADC now has nine senators, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), formerly the dominant opposition party, now only has six. Three senators left the Labour Party (LP), one resigned from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and five senators left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senators Dauda Yaroe, Lawal Usman, Ogochi Onawe, Aminu Tambuwal, and Austin Akubondu are the PDP defectors.Senators Tony Nwoye, Victor Umeh, and Ireti Kingibe are the LP defectors. Eight senators defected from the PDP and LP due to leadership issues within their respective parties. But according to Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, he left APGA after being fired by the party in September 2025.
The ruling All Progressive Party (APC) now has 87 senators after the defections, followed by the ADC with nine, the PDP with six, the Accord with one, the APGA with one, the NDC with one, and the NNPP with one.
Due to the passing of the impacted senators who previously held the seats, three seats—Nasarawa North, Enugu North, and Rivers South East—are now vacant.
