By Anayo Akwitti
Nigeria’s opposition ranks thinned further on Wednesday as three senators defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), tightening the party’s grip on the Senate.
Among the defectors is Deputy Minority Whip Osita Ngwu, who represents Enugu West and was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Also joining the APC is Aliyu Wadada, formerly of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), alongside Anthony Yaro, the senator representing Gombe South, who likewise exited the PDP.
The latest defections signal a growing shift in the Senate’s political balance, dealing another blow to opposition parties already grappling with internal challenges.
In the wake of Ngwu’s defection, the Senate named Tony Nwoye of the APC as the new Deputy Minority Whip, reinforcing the ruling party’s influence in minority leadership positions.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the appointment of Allwell Onyesoh as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, replacing the late Barinada Mpigi.
The Senate is yet to name a successor for Wadada as Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts.
The wave of defections underscores ongoing political realignments within the National Assembly, with implications for legislative dynamics in the months ahead.
