The All Progressives Congress (APC) has increased its representation in the Senate to 73 members following the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu from the Labour Party (LP).
Chukwu, who represents the Enugu East Senatorial District, announced his decision during plenary, citing disorganisation within the Labour Party as his reason for leaving. The development marks another shift in the composition of the 10th National Assembly.
Responding to the defection, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged opposition parties to restructure and provide credible alternatives, warning that their current disunity threatens democratic vitality.
“I want a strong and vibrant opposition in Nigeria. But when they are in disarray, what can we do? Please, put your house in order. That’s why INEC is registering more political parties,” Akpabio remarked.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele echoed this view, attributing the APC’s growing dominance to the government’s performance, particularly in economic management.
“This development reflects a wider national trend — the APC-led government is delivering results. Our foreign reserves are rising, and GDP is showing steady growth. These are clear signs that the economy is recovering,” Bamidele stated.
Following the latest defection, the distribution of Senate seats now stands as follows: APC — 73, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — 28, Labour Party (LP) — 4, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) — 2, Social Democratic Party (SDP) — 1, and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) — 1.