ADC: “How Many Times Have You Defected This Month?” – Akpabio Fires Back At Abaribe

During plenary at the Senate, Akpabio, while reading out defection correspondence from lawmakers, suggested that the volume of exit letters from the ADC was a sign of deep internal instability within the party. He further jokingly advised that future defectors should submit a single consolidated letter to avoid repeated reading of similar notices on the floor of the chamber.

One of the letters he read was that of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who reportedly moved from the ADC to the Labour Party. Reacting in a lighthearted but pointed tone, Akpabio directly referenced the senator, asking how many times he had changed political affiliation within a short period, a remark that triggered laughter among lawmakers present.

Meanwhile, political realignments continued in the House of Representatives, where at least 17 lawmakers were reported to have left the ADC for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). The development was formally announced during plenary after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read out the notices of defection on the floor of the House.

In the same sitting, another lawmaker, Leke Abejide, was also confirmed to have left the ADC for the All Progressives Congress (APC), further intensifying the wave of political movement within the chamber.

The growing defections have been described in political circles as a major test for the ADC’s internal cohesion, as more lawmakers continue to realign ahead of future political contests.