The Senate chamber erupted in political drama on Wednesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio took a swipe at opposition parties following the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Chukwu, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District, formally announced his switch during plenary, citing unresolved internal crises within the Labour Party as his reason for leaving.
His defection boosts the APC’s strength in the 10th Senate to 73 members, handing the ruling party a two-thirds majority and tightening its legislative control.
Reacting to the development, Akpabio didn’t hold back. “I want a strong and vibrant opposition in Nigeria,” he said. “But where they are not able to organise themselves and all the political parties are in tatters, then the right thing for them to do is to join me so that we can together move this country forward.”
He continued, “We are not going to have a one-party system. That’s why INEC is registering more parties. Please, put your house in order. I have been looking at the way you are getting depleted on daily basis, and I am in total sympathy with what is going on.”
Akpabio then launched into a stinging critique of the opposition, declaring, “The PDP is on the ground. The umbrella is torn. Labour Party is in tatters. Accord Party is no more. The ADC even crashed before it took off.”
He congratulated APC senators for “gaining a strong senatorial district in Enugu,” before turning to Minority Leader Abba Moro with a pointed invitation to respond.
Unfazed, Moro rose to defend the opposition’s relevance. “I want to say with due respect that you are the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I respect you, sir,” he began.
“Without prejudice to some achievements that Mr President has made, I want to say that no matter the number that are here, we are capable of holding our own.”
He acknowledged that defections were within the rights of lawmakers but expressed disappointment in Chukwu’s decision.
“I want to wish my brother and friend, Kelvin, who has just left the third row here to go to the last row there, good luck,” Moro said.
“When it was announced that he was going, and had made adequate consultations, I asked the question, who has he consulted? Because he didn’t talk to me. I do know that my brother came here on the back of the Obidient Movement. He came here on a sympathy vote. But that is a story for another day.”
He added, “This house is becoming too full, and it should be of concern to you. For the rest of us that are here, Mr President, we are satisfied that we are still here, and we will try to remain here until 2027.”
Chukwu’s defection leaves the Labour Party with just four senators in the chamber. Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North) now remains the party’s sole representative from Enugu State.
The PDP currently holds 28 seats, while the Social Democratic Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party have one each. The All Progressives Grand Alliance retains two senators.
Wednesday’s defection adds to a growing list of opposition losses. Earlier this year, four senators Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South) dumped the PDP for the Apc, citing internal wrangling.
