Senate defections: APC gains as PDP, NNPP lose six Reps to ADC, APC
The political shake-up in the Senate deepened yesterday as Tony Nwoye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) emerged as the new Minority Leader, following a wave of defections that significantly altered the balance of power in the red chamber.

Two senators defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), triggering a shift in the balance of power and forcing an immediate leadership reshuffle within the minority caucus.

However, the Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) suffered another setback in the House of Representatives following the defection of six lawmakers from ADC and APC.

Nwoye, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District, was unanimously endorsed by the minority caucus after the exit of key opposition figures triggered a leadership vacuum within the bloc.

His elevation is viewed as an attempt by the remaining opposition lawmakers to stabilise their ranks amid growing political pressure.

The change follows the defection of Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) to the APC, a move that further weakened the opposition structure in the Senate.

Ngwu’s resignation letter, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, cited political alignment with both Enugu leadership and the federal administration as key reasons for his decision.

In the same sitting, Anthony Yaro (PDP, Gombe South) also announced his defection to APC, while Aliyu Wadada confirmed his exit from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), further boosting APC’s numerical strength.

Political observers note that the opposition’s shrinking numbers forced a rapid restructuring of its leadership, with Nwoye’s emergence as Minority Leader seen as both a stabilising move and a defensive response to the ruling party’s expanding influence.

Despite the turbulence, Nwoye is expected to lead efforts to consolidate the ADC’s position in the Senate, coordinate opposition strategy, and manage a caucus increasingly under pressure from ongoing defections.

In a related development, President Bola Tinubu requested legislative approval for the appointment of Lamido Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), reinforcing ongoing efforts to reposition key economic institutions.

Both nominations were promptly referred to the   Committee of the Whole for consideration, signalling the Senate’s readiness to act on executive requests despite the shifting political dynamics within its ranks.

The House of Reps lawmakers, drawn from Kano, Zamfara and Imo states, announced their defections during Wednesday’s plenary, with Speaker Abbas Tajudeen formally reading their letters on the floor of the House.

Four of the defectors—Sani Wakil, Umar Zakari, Yusuf Datti, and Abdulhakeem Ado moved from the NNPP to the ADC, while Emeka Martin and Kabiru Maipalace left the PDP for the APC.

The development further weakens both opposition parties in the lower chamber, particularly the NNPP, which has now lost a significant portion of its legislative presence barely three years after emerging as a major force in Kano politics during the 2023 elections.