20 senators ready to dump APC, party’s majority under threat

APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu

No fewer than 20 APC senators have finalized plans to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and other parties, putting the party's majority control in the Senate in jeopardy.

The APC, which had previously lost 13 senators to the opposition parties, may lose other lawmakers enraged over not receiving re-election to the National Assembly during the party primaries.

It was reported that the party officials were concerned that the ruling party may lose its Senate majority if the rate of defections increased and the opposition PDP added more members.

Sen. Dauda Jika of Bauchi Central declared his switch to the NNPP during Wednesday's plenary, raising the total number of APC senators to 67.

The PDP currently has 39 senators, while the Young Peoples Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Labour Party, and New Nigeria People's Party each have four senators. These five minority parties currently have 43 senators in the upper chamber.

Abdullahi Adamu, the APC's national chairman, met with APC senators in private at the National Assembly complex in Abuja shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday to try to stop the tide of defections.

Before the general meeting, Adamu went to the office of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, for a quick meeting. He stated that the party was concerned about the wave of senatorial defections from the APC.

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with the APC caucus, he said that while it was common during the election season, it was still enough to make any leader concerned about losing any member.