BREAKING: Three PDP Senators Defect to APC

Three senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers—Amos Yohanna, Aminu Abbas, and Ikra Bilbis—formally declared their exit from the opposition party during plenary at the Nigerian Senate.

Yohanna represents Adamawa North Senatorial District, Abbas represents Adamawa Central Senatorial District, while Bilbis represents Zamfara North Senatorial District.

Their defection letters were read on the floor of the Senate by the Senate leadership, informing lawmakers of their decision to join the APC.

Although detailed reasons for the defections were not immediately made public, such political movements in Nigeria are often attributed to internal disputes within parties, political realignments, or strategic positioning ahead of future electoral contests.

The development is expected to further consolidate the numerical strength of the APC in the Senate, where the ruling party already holds a majority.

Observers say the move could also have implications for the political landscape in Adamawa and Zamfara states, where party loyalties and alignments continue to evolve ahead of the next election cycle.

BREAKING: Three PDP Senators Defect to APC

Omisore Sues APC Over Osun Governorship Primary Disqualification

Fresh tension has rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State after former national secretary and senator Iyiola Omisore filed a lawsuit challenging his disqualification from the party’s governorship primary ahead of the August 15, 2026 election. The legal action has reignited debates about internal party democracy and unity within the APC in the state.

Omisore filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, seeking a judicial review of the circumstances surrounding his disqualification. The case, listed as FHC/OS/CS/261/2025, directly challenges the decision of the APC Screening Committee, which barred him and six other aspirants from contesting the primary held on December 13, 2025. (osundefender.com)

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Party insiders say the disqualification created dissatisfaction among several APC members, with critics arguing that the process lacked transparency and was politically motivated to favor the consensus candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. Omisore has maintained that the screening was flawed, and the decision undermines internal party fairness. (politicsnigeria.com)

The lawsuit has deepened divisions within the Osun APC, raising concerns that unresolved grievances could weaken party cohesion ahead of the governorship campaign. Analysts suggest that the legal challenge could significantly influence the party’s political dynamics and its preparedness for the election. (thisdaylive.com)

In an effort to maintain unity, a delegation of party elders recently visited Omisore at his residence in Ile-Ife, urging him to reconsider his stance and support the party’s governorship candidate. The reconciliation efforts reportedly involve Adegboyega Oyetola, former governor of Osun State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, a key figure in the state APC. (thisdaylive.com)

Despite mediation efforts, the dispute is expected to continue unless an out-of-court settlement is reached. Observers say the case will test the APC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms and could shape the party’s electoral strategy and image in Osun State ahead of the 2026 governorship election. (politicsnigeria.com)

Omisore Sues APC Over Osun Governorship Primary Disqualification

Rivers West Senator Ipalibo Banigo Defects to APC, Citing PDP Crisis

Senator Ipalibo Banigo, representing Rivers West Senatorial District, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal party crises and a desire to support national development and economic reforms. The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, during plenary at the Nigerian Senate, when her letter of defection was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In her letter, Banigo explained that the decision followed extensive consultations with her constituents, political associates, and key stakeholders across Rivers West. She highlighted ongoing leadership disputes, internal divisions, and litigations within the PDP as factors that undermined party cohesion, making it difficult to pursue her legislative and developmental agenda effectively.

“I write to formally inform you and my distinguished colleagues in the Senate of my decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and subsequently join the All Progressives Congress (APC),” Banigo’s letter read. She added that the APC provides a more stable and progressive platform to advance her constituency’s interests and contribute to national governance.

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Banigo also expressed her support for President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and reforms, noting that the APC aligns with her vision for political stability, economic growth, and infrastructural development in Rivers State and across Nigeria. She thanked prominent political figures such as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for their mentorship and influence in her political journey.

“This decision is predicated on my resolve to join my political mentors in supporting President Tinubu’s administration and re-election bid,” she stated. She also emphasized her commitment to collaborate with APC lawmakers in the 10th Senate to further legislative initiatives and development projects for her constituents.

Political analysts say Banigo’s defection is part of a wider wave of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several governors, senators, and House of Representatives members leaving the PDP for the APC. Observers note that such movements are reshaping party dynamics, particularly in Rivers State, and strengthening the ruling party’s legislative presence.

Banigo’s defection underscores the ongoing political fluidity in Nigeria and reflects the strategic alignment of lawmakers seeking platforms that best support their constituencies and national development goals.

Rivers West Senator Ipalibo Banigo Defects to APC, Citing PDP Crisis