Yemi Obafemi
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday mocked the dwindling strength of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), joking that the party may have effectively collapsed following a string of defections.
His remarks came during plenary after the Senate announced fresh movements, including that of Senator Victor Umeh, who left the ADC over internal disputes and ongoing litigation. Umeh is now aligned with the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Reacting, Akpabio said, “Maybe all those defecting from ADC should just compile everything in one paper and bring it, so that we don’t keep announcing, announcing, announcing. Because I think ADC is dead.”
He also questioned the frequency of party switches among lawmakers, adding in a lighter tone, “How many times can you defect in a month? Once. But some have done three times.”
The Senate President advised lawmakers to adopt a more coordinated approach to defections, saying, “If you are defecting from Labour, you write all of you. If you are moving from ADC, you write all of you. If you are entering NDC, you write all of you,” to avoid what he described as a daily routine of announcements.
During the session, Akpabio highlighted the political trajectory of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, noting, “Senator Abaribe has moved from APGA to ADC, and now he has moved from ADC to Labour Party.”
