Senate Minority Whip Osita Ngwu, Aliyu Wadada Defect to APC

Senate Minority Whip Osita Ngwu, Aliyu Wadada Defect to APC

The political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections intensified on the floor of the Senate as the Senate Minority Whip representing Enugu West, Osita Ngwu, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal crises within his former party.

His defection letter was formally read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, confirming his exit from the opposition caucus and entry into the ruling party.

In a similar development, Senator Aliyu Wadada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, also announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the APC. His decision further strengthens the ruling party’s numerical advantage in the upper chamber.

Following Ngwu’s departure, the Senate announced Senator Tony Nwoye as the new Minority Whip, marking an immediate reshuffle within the opposition leadership structure in the chamber.

The defections add to the growing wave of political defections in Nigeria’s Senate as lawmakers continue to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. Analysts say the trend reflects internal crises within opposition parties and the increasing consolidation of power by the APC.

READ ALSO:

• Lagos Police Ban Officers From Searching Citizens’ Phones During Operations
• Lagos Sanitation Exercise Returns: Key Things Residents Should Know
• 2027: Mass Defections Hit PDP and NNPP as Lawmakers Join APC, ADC

With the latest defections, the APC has further strengthened its numerical advantage in the Senate, continuing a pattern of steady gains from opposition parties, particularly the PDP and SDP.

Political observers say the development underscores a broader shift in Nigeria’s legislative politics, where lawmakers are increasingly aligning with the ruling party ahead of election cycles.

In a related development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu forwarded a ministerial nominee, Muttaqha Darma, to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

The President also requested the confirmation of Lamido Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), a key institution responsible for monetary policy and financial stability.

The requests were read by the Senate President and subsequently referred to the Committee of the Whole for legislative consideration.

The latest defections and executive nominations come amid heightened political activity in the National Assembly as parties reposition for the 2027 general elections. Analysts warn that continued defections could weaken opposition parties further and reshape legislative balance, potentially giving the APC even greater control over lawmaking and political negotiations.

As the election season approaches, more realignments are expected across both chambers of the National Assembly.

Senate Minority Whip Osita Ngwu, Aliyu Wadada Defect to APC