Akpabio declares “ADC is dead” as defections rock party

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday stirred fresh political debate after declaring that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was effectively “dead,” following a wave of defections by lawmakers abandoning the party amid internal turmoil.

Akpabio made the remark during plenary shortly after the Senate formally announced fresh defections, including that of Victor Umeh, who moved to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), citing persistent leadership crises and prolonged legal battles within the ADC.

Presiding over proceedings, the Senate President, in a mix of humour and concern, suggested that the steady stream of defections had rendered the party politically irrelevant.

He urged lawmakers to adopt a more coordinated approach in announcing their movements, describing the current pattern as repetitive and disruptive to legislative business.

His comments came as more lawmakers continued to dump the ADC for other platforms, notably the NDC and the Labour Party, in what observers describe as a deepening realignment within the National Assembly.

Akpabio also referenced the political trajectory of Enyinnaya Abaribe, noting his movement across parties over time, as he questioned the frequency of defections by some lawmakers.

The developments in the Senate mirror similar shifts in the House of Representatives, where no fewer than 16 members recently exited the ADC for the NDC.

Those affected include lawmakers such as Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi and Lilian Orogbu, among others.

In his resignation letter, Umeh attributed his decision to “lingering divisions in the leadership and unending litigation” within the ADC, noting that the crisis had made continued membership untenable. He added that he would continue his legislative contributions under the NDC platform.

The string of defections has raised questions about the viability of the ADC as a political force ahead of future electoral contests, with analysts warning that sustained internal disputes and legal uncertainties could further weaken the party’s structure.