The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday declared that he believes the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is no longer a viable political platform, as fresh defections from the party continue to hit the National Assembly.
Akpabio made the remark during plenary while reading a letter from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District. In the letter, Abaribe formally announced his resignation from the ADC and his decision to join the Labour Party (LP), citing internal crises within his former party.
According to Abaribe, his defection was prompted by what he described as a “now well-known leadership crisis” rocking the ADC, worsened by multiple legal disputes affecting the party’s structure and cohesion. He stated that his decision takes immediate effect, signaling a clean break from the party under whose platform he was elected.
“The decision to leave the ADC has become necessary due to the persistent leadership challenges and legal uncertainties that have made the party unstable,” Abaribe noted in his letter, which was read aloud to fellow senators during the session.
Reacting after reading the letter, Akpabio used the opportunity to comment on the growing wave of defections, suggesting that the ADC may have effectively collapsed under the weight of its internal issues. “I believe the ADC is dead,” he said, a statement that drew mixed reactions within the chamber.
The Senate President also expressed concern over the increasing frequency of defection announcements during plenary, describing the process as becoming repetitive and time-consuming. He proposed a more streamlined approach for handling such declarations going forward.
“I am ready to keep announcing, but let us compile all so that it doesn’t become a daily ritual,” Akpabio said. “Let’s compile the names—if you’re defecting from Labour, you write the names of all of you; if you’re going from ADC, you write. And if you’re entering NDC, you write all of you. It is neater that way than presenting one name each time.”
His suggestion reflects the scale of political realignments currently underway, with lawmakers increasingly switching party affiliations amid shifting alliances and internal party disputes.
In a related development, Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District, also announced his resignation from the ADC during the same plenary session. In his letter, Umeh cited similar concerns about the party’s internal instability and leadership crisis.
Umeh, however, disclosed that he would be joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a party that appears to be gaining momentum as a new destination for defecting politicians. He emphasized that the ongoing turmoil within the ADC made it difficult for members to effectively pursue their legislative and political objectives.
“The leadership crisis in the ADC has made it practically impossible for the party to function as a cohesive political platform,” Umeh stated, adding that his decision was taken in the best interest of his constituents and political future.
The latest defections further underscore the deepening crisis within the ADC, which has in recent days lost several high-profile members across different levels of government. Political observers note that the party’s internal disputes and legal battles have significantly weakened its standing, prompting many members to seek more stable platforms.
The developments in the Senate mirror similar trends in the House of Representatives, where a number of lawmakers have also recently defected from the ADC to other parties, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress. The situation has raised broader questions about party discipline, ideological consistency, and the stability of Nigeria’s multi-party system.
Analysts argue that while defections are not uncommon in Nigerian politics, the current wave appears to be driven largely by internal party crises rather than clear ideological shifts. This, they say, highlights the need for stronger institutional frameworks within political parties to manage disputes and maintain cohesion.
Despite the criticism, some lawmakers defend their decisions as necessary responses to evolving political realities. They maintain that their primary responsibility is to their constituents, and that aligning with functional and stable political platforms is essential for effective representation.
As the ADC continues to grapple with its internal challenges, attention is now shifting to how emerging parties like the NDC and established ones like the Labour Party will absorb and integrate the influx of new members.
For now, the Senate remains a focal point of Nigeria’s ongoing political realignment, with more defections expected in the coming weeks as lawmakers reassess their affiliations in light of shifting party dynamics. Akpabio’s remarks, though blunt, reflect a growing sentiment among some political actors that the ADC may be struggling to remain relevant in the current landscape.
