President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may no longer be politically viable, following a wave of defections by lawmakers.
Akpabio made the remark while presiding over plenary, shortly after the Senate announced fresh defections, including that of Victor Umeh, who moved to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Reacting to the frequent movements of lawmakers between parties, the Senate President expressed concern over the growing trend, suggesting that defection announcements were becoming excessive.
“Resignation from ADC and declaration for Labour Party. Maybe all those defecting from ADC should just compile everything in one paper and bring, so that we don’t keep announcing, announcing, announcing,” he said.
“Because I think ADC is dead. How many times can you defect in a month? Once. But some have done three times,” he added.
Akpabio proposed that lawmakers intending to defect should submit their names collectively, rather than making individual announcements during plenary, in order to avoid what he described as a “daily ritual.”
“If you are defecting from Labour, you write all of you. If you are moving from ADC, you write all of you. If you are entering NDC, you write all of you,” he said.
In a lighter moment, he referenced the political movements of Enyinnaya Abaribe, noting that the senator had moved from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to ADC and then back to the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has also witnessed a similar trend, with no fewer than 17 lawmakers announcing their defection from the ADC to the NDC during Tuesday’s plenary.
The lawmakers cited internal crises within the ADC as the primary reason for their decision.
The wave of defections highlights ongoing shifts within Nigeria’s political landscape as parties and politicians reposition ahead of future elections.