The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strengthened its grip on the Nigerian Senate after Senator Kelvin Chukwu of Enugu East officially left the Labour Party (LP) to join the ruling party.
The defection, announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary session, brings the APC’s total number of senators to 73, giving it a solid two-thirds majority in the upper chamber.
Senator Chukwu, who succeeded his late brother Oyibo Chukwu following the 2023 general election, cited deepening internal divisions within the Labour Party as his reason for switching allegiance.
“There’s an ongoing crisis within the LP that has fractured the party. It’s becoming unbearable for members,” he said.
With his exit, the Labour Party is now left with just four senators nationwide. Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North) remains LP’s only senator from Enugu State.
Breakdown:
- APC: 73 senators
- PDP: 28 senators
- APGA: 2 senators
- SDP & NNPP: 1 senator each
Chukwu’s move adds to a growing trend of opposition lawmakers defecting to the APC in recent months.
Four senators from the Peoples Democratic Party, Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East) and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South) have also switched sides, mostly citing party conflicts.
Senator Bassey invoked constitutional provisions (Sections 40 and 68(1)(g)) to legitimize his defection.
