By Uzair Adam
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has declared that the African Democratic Congress appears to be losing relevance following a series of defections by its members.
Akpabio made this known on Tuesday during plenary, amid continued movement of lawmakers from the party to others, particularly the National Democratic Congress and the Labour Party.
The Senate President, who presided over the session, spoke after the announcement of fresh defections, including that of Victor Umeh to the NDC.
He expressed frustration over the frequency of such announcements, suggesting that defecting lawmakers should submit their notices collectively rather than individually.
He said it was becoming repetitive for the Senate to keep announcing defections, adding that the trend gives the impression of a daily routine.
According to him, the situation reflects poorly on the ADC, which he described as practically “dead.”
Akpabio further questioned the rate at which some lawmakers switch parties, noting that while defection is expected occasionally, repeated movements within a short period raise concerns about political stability.
In a lighter tone, he referenced the movement of Enyinnaya Abaribe, who recently transitioned from the All Progressives Grand Alliance to ADC and later moved again to the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives also recorded a significant shift on Tuesday, as at least 17 lawmakers announced their exit from ADC to the NDC during plenary.
The lawmakers, drawn from states including Kano, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, and Rivers, cited persistent internal crises within the party as the reason for their decision.
In separate letters read on the floor, the defectors pointed to unresolved issues spanning from the national leadership to ward levels, indicating deep-rooted challenges within the party structure.
