Two senators dump ADC in fresh twist

Two senators have announced their exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid uncertainty and instability within the party.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) announced his defection to the Labour Party (LP), while Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) joined the National Democratic Congress (NDC), recently registered by Senator Seriake Dickson.

The Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Rufai Hanga, who was until Tuesday a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), also defected to the NDC.

The dramatic defections have increased the number of NDC senators to three, while the ADC has dropped from nine senators to seven.

Incidentally, Abaribe, barely two months ago, on March 11, notified the Senate of his defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the ADC, although he had left APGA on December 30, 2025.

ALSO READ: UPDATED: Massive defection hits ADC as 17 Reps members join NDC

Umeh also formally confirmed his defection from the LP to the ADC last March, before announcing another move to the NDC on Tuesday.

Umeh, an ally of former LP presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, who has also joined the NDC from the ADC, is said to be following in the footsteps of the former Anambra State governor, amid the ongoing disunity in the ADC.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, struck a comical tone when he described the ADC as “dead” while announcing the defections of Abaribe and Umeh.

Akpabio said he would prefer that all defections were compiled so he could announce them at once, instead of repeatedly doing so.

“I think ADC is dead,” he said.

“Senator Aliero, as an elder statesman, how many times can one really defect in a month?”

Amid protests by Abaribe, Aliero replied, “as the spirit directs.”

Abaribe cited “multiple legal issues” in his Abia South district as part of the reasons he dumped the ADC.