SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has declared the African Democratic Congress (ADC) effectively dead, following a series of high-profile defections from the party.
His remark came during Tuesday’s plenary session, following the official resignation of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South, was announced.
After reading Abaribe’s resignation letter on the Senate floor, Akpabio proposed a more efficient procedure for handling future defections.
“All those defecting from ADC should just compile everything in one paper so that we don’t keep announcing. I think ADC is dead,” he said, adding that a similar consolidated approach should apply to lawmakers leaving or joining the Labour Party, arguing that grouping names together would be “neater” than reading them one by one.
Senator Abaribe, who had only recently joined the ADC, explained that he was leaving for the Labour Party due to legal uncertainties surrounding the ADC.
“Given the uncertainties concerning the ADC party with regard to the multiple lawsuits and court judgements, I have today resigned from the ADC and joined the Labour Party, effective immediately,” his letter stated.
He clarified that his decision was not a reflection on his personal relationships within the ADC, which he said remained solid and cordial.
Abaribe was not alone in switching allegiances. During the same session, Senators Victor Umeh and Rufai Hanga also announced their defections.
Umeh left the ADC to join the National Democratic Congress (NDC), while Hanga, the Deputy Minority Whip, moved from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the NDC.
Similar shifts occurred in the House of Representatives, where Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced that 17 lawmakers had defected from the ADC to the NDC, while one member, Leke Abejide, left the ADC for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
These moves signal intensifying political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
