The All Progressives Congress (APC) has achieved a two-thirds majority in the Nigerian Senate, with 73 seats, following the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu from Enugu East, who left the Labour Party. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the defection during Wednesday’s plenary session on October 8, 2025. Chukwu, who succeeded his late brother Oyibo Chukwu after the 2023 election, cited the Labour Party’s ongoing internal crisis and fractionalization as the reason for his move.
The defection reduces the Labour Party’s representation to four senators in the 10th Senate, with Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North) as its sole remaining member from Enugu State. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds 28 seats, while the Social Democratic Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party each have one senator, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance has two.
Chukwu’s move follows a trend of opposition lawmakers joining the APC, including four PDP senators—Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South)—who cited similar party crises. Bassey referenced Sections 40 and 68(1)(g) of the Constitution to justify his defection.
Observers warn that the growing APC dominance may weaken opposition oversight in the National Assembly, raising concerns about the balance of power in Nigeria’s political landscape.
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