The All Progressives Congress (APC) is reportedly making efforts to attract more senators to its fold as part of a strategy to strengthen its presence in the Senate. This comes amidst criticism over the recent defection of lawmakers from other parties to the ruling APC.
Ajang Iliya, who represents Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State, recently switched to the APC, becoming the sixth Labour Party (LP) lawmaker to defect. Others who previously left the LP include Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).
A source revealed that discussions are ongoing with other lawmakers, and any future defections will be celebrated at the party’s national secretariat. The APC has employed similar strategies in the past, such as when it welcomed Senator Ifeanyi Ubah from the Young Peoples Party (YPP).
Of the five remaining LP senators, three represent constituencies in the South-East: Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu North), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North). The others are Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory) and Neda Imasuen (Edo South).
In June, Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi of Imo East defected from the LP to the APC, citing internal disagreements within the LP as his reason.
The current Senate composition includes 63 APC members, 34 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and two each from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). The LP holds five seats, while two seats are vacant: one in Edo Central following Senator Monday Okpebholo’s assumption of office as Edo State governor, and the other in Anambra South after Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s passing in July.
Meanwhile, Labour Party lawmakers in the National Assembly have scheduled a meeting to discuss the ongoing defections and other concerns affecting the party.
“We are meeting to review recent developments in our party,” an LP lawmaker shared. When asked about the possibility of defecting, the lawmaker replied, “I can’t say for now. It’s not something I want to talk about at this moment.”
