APC secures 70-seat majority in Senate as defections from Osun and Akwa Ibom deal heavy blow to PDP’s influence.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has further strengthened its hold on the Nigerian Senate, reaching a commanding 70-seat majority following the defection of four senators from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during Wednesday’s plenary session.
The lawmakers—Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South)—formally announced their departure from the PDP on the Senate floor. Their resignation letters were read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who instructed the Clerk of the Senate to officially record the defections.
This latest development has reshaped the political landscape of the 10th Senate, which now comprises the APC with 70 senators, the PDP with 28, the Labour Party with 5, the Social Democratic Party with 2, the New Nigeria Peoples Party with 1, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance with 1.
The defections come as a significant setback for the PDP, especially in Akwa Ibom State, a traditional stronghold of the party. With the departure of two senators from the state, political analysts suggest that the APC is positioning itself for deeper regional control.
Senator Aniekan Bassey, in his resignation letter, cited Sections 40 and 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution as the legal basis for his move. He described his decision as “deeply considered” and necessary due to internal fractures within the PDP. Bassey stated that the political dynamics in his constituency and the disarray in the party had rendered his continued membership untenable. He expressed gratitude to the PDP for its platform but noted that the defection was in the best interest of his constituents.
Welcoming Bassey, Senate President Akpabio—himself a former PDP member and ex-governor of Akwa Ibom—offered a warm reception. “Senator Aniekan Bassey has now joined the APC. I welcome him with open arms. He has depleted the rank and file of the left-hand side to populate the right-hand side,” Akpabio said in a symbolic remark referencing Senate seating arrangements.
Senator Samson Ekong, another defector from Akwa Ibom, also defended his decision, pointing to the sweeping realignments within the state's political structure. “Politics is a game of interest and, if I may add, circumstances,” Ekong remarked. He highlighted the consolidation of key political actors under the APC and referenced the defection of Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno as a major factor influencing the move.
Top APC officials, including National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru and former Minister of Labour Senator Chris Ngige, were present during the announcement, alongside members of the House of Representatives who came in solidarity. The show of support underscores the strategic significance of the defections and the APC’s growing momentum across previously opposition-dominated zones.
With this development, the PDP faces increasing pressure to reassess its internal cohesion and regional strategies, as the APC continues to widen its legislative advantage and consolidate national political power.
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