WorldStage– The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has made a jests of opposition parties over their dwindling numbers in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
At Tuesday plenary, two new senators were sworn in while announcement was officially made of the defection of another.
The two new senators sworn in were, Messrs Joseph Ikpea (Edo Central, APC) and Nwachukwu Chibuzor (Anambra South, APGA).
Their swearing in restored the Senate to its full complement of 109 members.
Akpabio congratulated the new lawmakers and urged them to “work harmoniously across party lines in the interest of national development.”
Taking a swipe at the shrinking opposition in the red chamber, Akpabio also formally announced the defection of Senator Kevin Chukwu, representing Enugu East Senatorial District, from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection, which played out in a mix of satire and ceremony, triggered a lively exchange between the Senate President, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro.
Akpabio, before reading the defection letter, joked about the thinning minority ranks in his characteristic comic style. “To the All Progressives Congress, the only party, please receive and celebrate your colleague,” he quipped as the chamber erupted in laughter.
He added: “I used to worry about the left side of the aisle, but I’m no longer worried. If they like, let them all move here. I only wanted a few of them to remain.
Senator Osita Ngwu and Senator Abba Moro, you are the only ones left to hold. Even Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, from the look on his face, doesn’t seem ready to join us. But your party is in tatters, what are you waiting for?”
After the banter, Akpabio read Senator Chukwu’s letter, in which the lawmaker cited internal wranglings and leadership crises in the Labour Party as reasons for his exit.
“Recent developments within the Labour Party, including internal wranglings, leadership crisis, policy disagreements, and lack of cohesion and focus at both state and national levels, have made it increasingly difficult for me to effectively discharge my duties,” Chukwu stated.
He said his move to the APC followed extensive consultations with his constituents, noting that the ruling party under President Bola Tinubu “provides a more stable and inclusive platform for economic growth, national unity, and good governance.”
Welcoming Chukwu, Akpabio said, “Your defection is accepted, noted, and applauded. Welcome to the progressive family.”
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also congratulated the new entrant, describing the defection as part of Nigeria’s “political evolution.”
“Every politician is local. They know the thinking of their people,” Bamidele said. “We will continue to work with our colleagues on the minority side, even as more of them join us.”
In a metaphorical jab, he added: “My mother used to say she would never pray that no one dies in war, but she would also not pray that heaven be empty.
“God created heaven for people who have lived well. I want a strong opposition, but when they can’t organize themselves, they should join us so we can move Nigeria forward.”
His remarks drew laughter across the chamber, prompting Minority Leader Abba Moro to rise in response.
Moro congratulated Chukwu but took a subtle swipe, saying, “Those who are gravitating towards the majority are exercising their rights.
“But my brother Kevin came here on a sympathy vote after an unfortunate incident. That’s a story for another day.”
Moro was referring to the assassination of Chukwu’s elder brother, Oyibo Chukwu, who was the LP senatorial candidate in 2023 before Kevin replaced him and won the election.
Moro also cautioned that the Senate was becoming “too full” on the majority side, adding, “For the rest of us that are here, we’ll remain till 2027.”
Akpabio, still in a jovial tone, replied, “If you are waiting to cross over in 2027, no problem. Remain there for now.”
The defection strengthens the APC’s dominance in the 10th Senate while deepening the crisis in the Labour Party, which continues to grapple with internal leadership struggles since the 2023 polls.
Tuesday’s plenary was marked by political drama and symbolic restoration, a reflection of both the shifting balance of power and the Senate’s renewed completeness.
