Why we dumped our former parties – Tambuwal, Abaribe, Dickson, other senators
Nine Senators Switch Parties Amid Internal Strife
In a significant political shift, nine Nigerian senators announced their defections from their respective political parties, each citing distinct reasons for their decisions.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Senators Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa), Victor Umeh (Anambra), Tony Nwonye (Anambra), Lawal Usman (Kaduna), Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa), Augustine Akobundu (Abia), and Ireti Kingibe (FCT) have joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Meanwhile, Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The letters of defection were addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and were read aloud during the day’s plenary session.
In his letter, Tambuwal cited ongoing internal crises within the PDP, including leadership disputes and litigations, which he claimed hindered his ability to remain an active member. He expressed concern that these issues have weakened the party’s unity and direction.
“Please accept this letter as a formal notice of my defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” Tambuwal wrote.
Abaribe’s decision to join the ADC was framed as part of a collective effort to strengthen democracy in Nigeria. Yaroe echoed a similar sentiment, asserting that his move was motivated by a desire to uphold Nigeria’s multi-party democratic framework.
The discussions surrounding Abaribe’s letter sparked controversy, as some senators disputed his claims of crisis within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau noted that the constitution permits party changes under certain conditions, such as party divisions or mergers. He acknowledged factions within the PDP but emphasized that there were no visible divisions within the APGA or the Labour Party.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele suggested that Abaribe’s situation should be referred to the Legal Department of the National Assembly for further examination of its constitutional implications.
In response, Abaribe defended his position, stating he had not been expelled from his party and was prepared to clarify his situation with the appropriate documentation.
In his capacity as Senate President, Akpabio advised Abaribe to reconsider his decision, allowing him until the next session to submit a definitive choice.
The latest political landscape in the Nigerian Senate now includes 87 senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC), nine from the ADC, seven from the PDP, one each from APGA, NDC, and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and no representatives from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or the Labour Party (LP). Three Senate seats remain vacant due to previous occupants’ deaths.
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