The Nigerian Senate was thrown into chaos on Wednesday following a disagreement between All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers and their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts over Senator Ned Nwoko’s defection to the APC.
Nwoko, who represents the Delta-North Senatorial District, officially notified the Senate of his decision to leave the PDP, the party that helped secure his Senate seat. Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, read Nwoko’s defection letter, where he expressed concerns about the factionalization of the PDP and its diminished status as a key opposition force. Nwoko called for an ad-hoc committee to investigate the PDP’s crises and safeguard the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.
His announcement sparked immediate protests from PDP senators, who were met with celebration from APC members. The latter embraced Nwoko, raising his hands and walking him through the rows of senators in a show of support.
PDP’s Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, invoked Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that Nwoko should vacate his seat after defecting from the party that sponsored his election. He dismissed suggestions that the PDP was divided, asserting that no court had ruled on the matter of the party’s national secretary.
However, APC senators, led by Akpabio and Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, countered that the factionalization of the PDP legally justified Nwoko’s defection. They cited ongoing splits within the party, with factions led by Governor Nyesom Wike and Senator Bala Mohammed.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader, reinforced the APC’s position, emphasizing that Nwoko’s defection was constitutionally valid. He accused PDP lawmakers of attempting to distract from the constitutional reality of their party’s crisis, which provided legal grounds for defections.
Despite the tension, Akpabio ruled to accept Nwoko’s defection, dismissing objections from the PDP camp.
