Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stirred the political waters by declaring the African Democratic Congress (ADC) effectively “dead” during plenary on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
The comment came as a fresh wave of high-profile defections hit both chambers of the National Assembly, following the recent move of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Akpabio’s “Daily Ritual” Critique
During the session, Akpabio expressed amusement and slight frustration at the sheer volume of lawmakers switching parties. After reading a letter from Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) announcing his exit from the ADC to join the Labour Party (LP), the Senate President remarked:
“Maybe all those defecting from ADC should just compile everything in one paper and bring it, so that we don’t keep announcing… because I think ADC is dead.”
He further joked about the frequency of the moves, questioning how many times a lawmaker could defect in a single month. “Some have done it three times,” he added, suggesting that future notifications should be grouped by their party destinations to avoid turning plenary into a “daily ritual.”
The Magnitude of the Exodus
The Senate President’s comments reflect a massive collapse of the ADC’s legislative caucus within just 48 hours:
- In the Senate: Beyond Abaribe, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) officially moved to the NDC, citing “unending litigation” and leadership crises within the ADC.
- In the House of Representatives: A staggering 17 lawmakers dumped the ADC for the NDC on Tuesday. Notable names include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Thaddeus Attah, and Afam Ogene.
- Move to APC: Hon. Leke Abejide (Yagba Federal Constituency), a prominent ADC figure, broke away from the “Third Force” trend by defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Why is the ADC Collapsing?
Lawmakers fleeing the party have cited a consistent set of reasons:
- Internal Legal Battles: Multiple lawsuits and conflicting court judgments regarding the party’s leadership have made it an “unstable platform.”
- The “Obi-Kwankwaso” Pull: The official merger of the two heavyweights into the NDC on Sunday created a vacuum that many opposition lawmakers felt compelled to fill.
- INEC Deadline: With the May 10 deadline for parties to submit updated membership registers fast approaching, politicians are rushing to secure their spots in “viable” platforms for the 2027 cycle.
