THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has significantly increased its representation in the National Assembly, following a wave of defections from opposition lawmakers.
As of June 2025, the APC holds 68 Senate seats and approximately 207 seats in the House of Representatives—strengthening its grip on the legislature two years into the 10th Assembly.
Senator Neda Imasuen of the Labour Party (Edo South) is set to formally join the APC on June 12, potentially raising the party’s Senate strength to 69.
Speculation also surrounds Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu (Nasarawa West), who recently resigned from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and may also return to the APC, which could raise their numbers to 70.
At the June 2023 inauguration of the 10th Assembly, the APC controlled 59 Senate seats and 175 in the House. Since then, defections—primarily from the PDP and Labour Party—have altered the composition significantly.
In the Senate, three PDP senators from Kebbi and others from the Labour Party, NNPP, and YPP have crossed over to the APC. In the House, opposition losses have reduced their total from 182 seats to around 150.
High-profile shifts include six PDP lawmakers from Delta State who defected in May after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori joined the APC. Other notable defections came from Labour Party members citing internal party crises, and NNPP members disillusioned with their party’s leadership.
Political analysts say the trend reflects a deep-rooted absence of ideological commitment among Nigeria’s politicians.
Dr. Kamar Hamza of IBB University Lapai described the parties as “vehicles for power, not policy,” while Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya of Al-Hikmah University attributed the instability to the monetisation of politics and systemic poverty.
Legal experts also raised concerns about the disregard for constitutional provisions and court rulings. Barr. Manzuma Issa, former NBA chairman (Ilorin branch), said that despite clear Supreme Court decisions on defections, enforcement remains elusive.
“In a functional democracy, court rulings are binding. But in Nigeria, impunity persists,” he said.
With more defections anticipated, particularly from Akwa Ibom lawmakers following Governor Umo Eno’s defection to the APC, the party’s dominance could deepen—raising questions about the future of party loyalty and democratic accountability in Nigeria’s political system.