Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is effectively “dead” following a wave of defections by lawmakers to other political parties.

He made the remark during plenary on Tuesday while reading letters announcing the latest movements in the National Assembly.

Akpabio reacts to rising defections

Akpabio’s comment came after several lawmakers formally announced their exit from the ADC.

Among them were Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who defected to the Labour Party, and Senator Victor Umeh, who joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

“Because I think ADC is dead,” Akpabio said, drawing reactions from lawmakers in the chamber.

Lawmakers cite internal crisis

In their letters, defecting lawmakers pointed to internal divisions and ongoing legal disputes within the ADC.

Umeh described the situation as “unending litigation,” noting that it had made continued membership in the party difficult.

“I remain committed to making my contributions towards the development of our dear nation, but this time through the NDC,” he wrote.

Senate President jokes over frequency

Akpabio also questioned the increasing rate of defections, suggesting lawmakers should streamline how such announcements are made.

“How many times can you defect in a month? Once. But some have done three times,” he said.

He proposed that lawmakers moving to the same party should submit joint notifications instead of individual letters.

House of Representatives records similar trend

The development extends beyond the Senate, as no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives have also defected from the ADC to the NDC.

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

Political realignment deepens

The latest wave of defections signals ongoing realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Observers say the movement of lawmakers across parties reflects shifting alliances and internal struggles within opposition blocs.