Senate President defends defections as constitutional; Minority Leader accuses APC of undermining democracy.
A heated exchange erupted on the floor of the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Minority Leader Patrick Moro traded words over the recent wave of defections by senators from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The disagreement began after Moro raised a point of order, expressing concern that the frequent defections were weakening the opposition and threatening Nigeria’s democratic structure. He argued that many of the defections lacked constitutional justification, accusing the ruling party of using “political inducement and intimidation” to lure opposition lawmakers.
In response, Senate President Akpabio dismissed Moro’s allegations, stating that every senator has the constitutional right to freely associate with any political party of their choice. He emphasized that the Senate has no power to stop defections once lawmakers cite divisions or crises within their former parties as the reason for leaving.
The debate grew tense as both leaders exchanged sharp remarks, with Moro insisting that the Senate must protect the sanctity of political opposition, while Akpabio maintained that the chamber cannot “sit in judgment” over individual decisions of its members.
The confrontation reflects growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as more lawmakers reportedly plan to switch parties in the coming months.
Observers say the incident underscores deepening tensions within the National Assembly as party loyalties continue to shift in Nigeria’s fluid political landscape.