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Tambuwal, Abaribe, Kingibe, 6 other senators cross to ADC
22 Reps dump PDP, LP, NNDP, YPP for APC, ADC
From Ndubuisi Orji and Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
A fresh wave of defections, yesterday, swept through the National Assembly as Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Abia South Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe and seven other senators across different political parties defected to the African Democratic Party (ADC), while 21 members of the House of Representatives defected to the All Progressive Party Congress (APC) during plenary.
Meanwhile, a heated debate erupted in the Senate after Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, threatened to declare Abaribe’s seat vacant, following his defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The development followed the official defection of eight senators from the minority parties to the ADC and one to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) during plenary, triggering a constitutional debate over the application of Section 68 (1)(b) and (g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Others, who defected to the ADC were Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Lawal Adamu Usman (Kaduna Central), Mohammed Onawo (Nasarawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central) and Ireti Kingibe (FCT).
While most of the defectors cited internal divisions in their former parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, to justify their action, Abaribe’s letter did not indicate any crisis within the APGA, causing a debate on its legality.
Apparently seizing on that omission, the Senate leadership raised questions over the legality of the Abia South senator’s defection and whether the constitutional provision requiring lawmakers to vacate their seats should be invoked against him.
Acting on the directive of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, rose under Order 20 of the Senate Standing Rules to challenge Abaribe’s defection. Jibrin told the chamber that while he had reviewed the letters of defection read by Akpabio, Abaribe’s case stood out because APGA was not known to be facing any division or crisis at the national level.
“Mr President, as directed by you, I have gone through the letters forwarded to you and read by you on the defections of the senators into the ADC.
“I observed that one of the parties, APGA, from where Abaribe defected, was not engulfed by any crisis or division, particularly at the national level.
“Abaribe’s defection, as clearly stated in Section 68(1)(b) and (g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, is against the provisions of the law and warrants you to do the needful as far as the Abia South senatorial seat is concerned.”
Jibrin noted that the Constitution provides that a member of the National Assembly shall vacate his seat if he defects from the political party that sponsored his election, except where such defection was caused by a division in the party or a merger involving the party.
Following the observation, Akpabio invited Abaribe to respond to the issues raised against his defection.
Abaribe admitted that APGA was not divided but explained that the party had expelled him since September 2025.
According to him, his expulsion meant he no longer belonged to the party that sponsored his election, leaving him without a political platform until his decision to align with the ADC.
“I was sacked from the APGA in September 2025. Since one must belong to a political party to be in the Senate, I had to join another platform,” he said.
However, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, argued that Abaribe’s explanation could further complicate the matter. He maintained that if the senator was truly expelled from the APGA as he claimed, that circumstance could itself trigger the constitutional provision requiring him to vacate his seat under Section 68(1)(b).
Apparently weighing the arguments, Akpabio ruled that the Senate would study the constitutional implications of the matter before taking a final decision.
He subsequently gave Abaribe one week to either withdraw his letter of defection or present more convincing reasons to justify his action.
In a letter addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman of Tambuwal/Shinfiri Ward, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Tambuwal wrote: “I write to formally tender my resignation as a member of the PDP.
“The persistent internal crisis, leadership disagreements and divisions within the party at various levels have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my active participation and commitment as a member.
“The ongoing conflicts have, unfortunately, weakened the unity and direction that once defined the party.
“Please, accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Tambuwal served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 before emerging as Governor of Sokoto State in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress. He later defected to the PDP the same year and was re-elected governor in 2019.
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After completing his second term in 2023, he was elected as Senator representing Sokoto South.
Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) also formally notified the Senate of his defection from the PDP to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a development conveyed in a letter read by the Senate President. With the latest realignments, the ADC has emerged as the leading opposition party in the Senate with nine senators, while the PDP’s numbers have dwindled to seven.
The Senate composition now stands at 87 senators for the All Progressives Congress (APC), nine for the ADC, seven for the PDP, one each for APGA, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the NDC.
Three senatorial seats, Nasarawa North, Enugu North and Rivers South East, remain vacant following the deaths of the lawmakers who previously occupied them.
Similarly, the fresh wave of defections saw some opposition Reps members moving into the APC and the ADC.
The affected lawmakers defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
In separate letters read by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, on the floor of the house, the lawmakers cited irreconcilable differences in their former parties as reasons for the defections.
The defecting members included members of the PDP, who cross-carpeted to the APC; members of the LP and the YPP, who crossed over to the ADC.
The notices of defections, which were read at yesterday’s plenary, indicated that the member, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State and leader of the LP caucus, Afam Ogene, moved from the LP to the ADC.
Other LP members who defected to the ADC were Peter Anekwe (Anambra East/West Federal constituency of Anambra State), Lilian Obiageli (Awka North/Awka South Federal Constituency of Anambra State); Jesse Onuakalusi (Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos State) and Omoruyi Osaro (Egor/Ikpoba Okha federal constituency of Edo State).
Similarly, the lone member of the YPP in the House, Peter Uzokwe (Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal constituency of Anambra), also defected to the ADC.
On the flip-side, Zakaria Nyampa (Michika/Madagali Federal Constituency of Adamawa State), Kobis Thimnu (Guyuk/Shellenge Federal Constituency of Adamawa), Bitrus Kwamoti (Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal constituency of Adamawa) and James Barka (Gombi/Hong federal constituency of Adamawa State), defected from the PDP to the APC.
Furthermore, Mohammed Bargaja (Isa/Sabon Birni federal constituency of Sokoto) and Midala Balami (Askira-Uba/ Hawul federal constituency of Borno State) equally defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.
Deputy Speaker, who presided over the plenary, said the nine other members, who sent in their notice of defection, were not on the floor, stating that their letters would not be read in their absence.
Meanwhile, the ADC has said it was not aware of the alleged suspension of the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly.
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC was unaware of any decision suspending the senator.
According to Abdullahi, the party operates within clear constitutional provisions, noting that disciplinary matters involving members follow established procedures and are not handled through public announcements.
“As a law-abiding political party, the ADC has clear constitutional channels for addressing allegations involving its members.”
He explained that internal party mechanisms existed to manage grievances, adding that such processes were strictly guided by the party’s constitution and leadership structures.
According to him, any claim suggesting that Sen. Kingibe has been suspended did not originate from the party’s recognised leadership or its official decision-making organs.
“We, therefore, urge the public and the media to disregard reports suggesting that Ireti Kingibe has been suspended by the party.”
He described the circulating reports as false and misleading, warning that misinformation could create unnecessary political tension and confusion among party supporters.
The party spokesman reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to transparency, due process and internal democracy in handling all issues concerning its members.
