By Ismaeel Aleem
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has solidified its grip on the Nigerian Senate, now commanding 72 of the 109 seats in the upper legislative chamber following the defection of Senator Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa West) from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
This shift, announced on September 2, further weakens the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which now holds only 28 seats, highlighting a dramatic realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Senator Wadada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, rejoined the APC after leaving in 2022 to contest and win the 2023 senatorial election under the SDP.
In a letter titled “Notification of my return to the APC,” addressed to the party chairman in Tudun Kofa Ward, Wadada stated, “After careful consideration, I have decided to rejoin the party to contribute to its growth, development, and success.”
His return marks a significant boost for the APC’s legislative influence.
APC gains weight
The APC’s strengthened position follows a string of defections from the PDP, with four senators Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South) switching to the ruling party in July 2025.
Their resignation letters, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary, cited irreconcilable divisions within the PDP.
Senator Bassey, invoking Sections 40 and 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, described his move as “imperative” due to a “fractured” party structure, while Ekong pointed to political realignments in Akwa Ibom, stating, “The earth has moved with the convergence of principal political players on the APC platform.”
The current Senate composition includes the Labour Party with five seats, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with two, and both the SDP and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with one each.
Two seats, Edo Central and Anambra South, remain vacant pending by-elections. The APC’s 72-seat position it just one short of a two-thirds majority, granting significant leverage to shape legislative agendas and national policies.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele hailed the defections as a testament to Nigeria’s dynamic democracy, predicting further shifts.
“This cannot be the end more are coming,” he declared, signalling the APC’s intent to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 elections.
