Senate President Akpabio Declares ADC Effectively Dead

Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared on Tuesday that the African Democratic Congress is effectively dead, amid a wave of defections by lawmakers from the party during plenary in Nigeria's National Assembly.

Akpabio made the remarks while reading defection letters, including one from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who resigned from the ADC to join the Labour Party. Abaribe cited a pronounced leadership crisis and multiple legal suits within the ADC as the reasons for his decision. Akpabio noted Abaribe's recent party movements, from the All Progressives Grand Alliance to the ADC and now to the Labour Party, prompting laughter in the chamber.

He also announced the defection of Senator Victor Umeh to the Nigerian Democratic Congress, with Umeh attributing his move to lingering leadership divisions and ongoing litigation that made continued membership untenable. Umeh stated he would continue his legislative work under the NDC platform.

In a lighter tone, Akpabio questioned the frequency of some lawmakers' defections, asking, "How many times can you defect in a month?" He suggested that those leaving the ADC compile their resignations into a single letter to avoid repetitive...