Akpabio mocks ADC as defections rock National Assembly

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as “dead,” reacting to a fresh wave of defections by lawmakers in the National Assembly.

 

Akpabio made the remark during plenary shortly after the Senate announced the defection of some members, including Senator Victor Umeh, who dumped the ADC for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), citing internal crises and persistent litigation within the party.

 

“Maybe all those defecting from ADC should just compile everything in one paper… because I think ADC is dead,” Akpabio said, drawing reactions from lawmakers.

 

He also took a swipe at the frequency of political defections, joking that some legislators had switched parties multiple times within a short period.

 

“How many times can you defect in a month? Once. But some have done three times,” he said.

 

The Senate President suggested a more coordinated approach to announcing defections, urging lawmakers to submit joint letters rather than making frequent individual declarations on the floor.

 

“So that it doesn’t look like a daily ritual,” he added.

 

During the session, Akpabio also highlighted the movement of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe across parties in recent years, noting his latest switch from ADC to the Labour Party.

 

The development comes amid broader political realignments in the National Assembly, where at least 16 members of the House of Representatives have also defected from the ADC to the NDC.

 

The lawmakers cited unresolved internal disputes and legal battles within the party as reasons for their exit, further deepening the crisis within the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.