Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing the Enugu East Senatorial District, has officially defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). His move, announced during Wednesday’s plenary, strengthens the ruling party’s grip on the Senate.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed the defection, stating that the APC now controls 73 seats in the 10th Senate. This gives the ruling party a solid two-thirds majority, reinforcing its dominance in the upper legislative chamber.
Kelvin Chukwu, who replaced his late brother Oyibo Chukwu after the 2023 elections, cited deepening internal crises within the Labour Party as his reason for leaving.
“The protracted crisis rocking the LP, which has led to its factionalisation, is seriously affecting its members,” he said.
Following his exit, the Labour Party’s presence in the Senate has dropped to just four members. Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North) now stands as the only LP senator from the state.
In contrast, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) holds 28 seats, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have one seat each. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) retains two senators.
This defection follows a pattern. In recent months, four opposition senators; Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South), also left the PDP for the ruling APC amid internal strife.
Akpabio seized the moment to taunt the opposition, describing the wave of defections as proof of disarray within minority parties.
“I want a strong and vibrant opposition in Nigeria,” Akpabio said. “But where they are not able to organise themselves and all the political parties are in tatters, the right thing is to join us so we can move this country forward. The PDP is on the ground, the umbrella is torn. Labour Party is in tatters. Accord Party is no more. The ADC even crashed before it took off.”
The Senate President congratulated APC lawmakers for “gaining a strong senatorial district in Enugu” drawing laughter across the chamber. He then invited Minority Leader Abba Moro to respond.
Moro dismissed the jabs, insisting that the opposition remains resolute despite the defections.
“No matter the number here, we are capable of holding our own,” he said. “Those who are gravitating towards the majority side are exercising their rights. But I wish my brother and friend, Kelvin, who has just left the third row for the last row, good luck.”
