The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has solidified its control over the Nigerian Senate following the defection of Senator Ahmed Wadada from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Wadada, who represents Nasarawa West, rejoined the APC, boosting the party’s presence to 72 out of the 109 Senate seats.
This development further diminishes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which now holds only 28 senators.
Other parties include the Labour Party with five senators, the All Progressives Grand Alliance with two and the New Nigeria Peoples Party and SDP with one each.
Senator Wadada, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, had left the APC in 2022 to run under the SDP banner and won his seat in the 2023 elections.
His official return was communicated in a letter dated September 2, addressed to the APC chairman in his ward, in which he expressed his desire to contribute to the party’s progress and success.
This recent defection follows a wave of PDP senators who have also switched allegiance to the APC.
Just two months ago, four senators; Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East) and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South)—crossed over, citing internal divisions and crisis within the PDP.
In their resignation letters, read aloud by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the senators described their decisions as well-considered and necessary due to fractured party structures and shifting political realities in their states.
Senator Bassey invoked constitutional provisions in explaining his defection, while Senator Ekong pointed to a realignment of key political players within Akwa Ibom State favoring the APC.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele welcomed the defectors warmly, hinting that more senators may soon join the APC.
