- His defection raised the APC’s strength in the 10th Senate to 73 members
- Chukwu’s exit reduced the Labour Party’s representation in the Senate to four
- Moro stressed that opposition senators could still hold their ground
The Senate chamber saw heated exchanges after Senator Kelvin Chukwu of Enugu East defected from the Labour Party to the APC, citing a persistent internal crisis.
Eko Hot Blog reports that his defection raised the APC’s strength in the 10th Senate to 73 members, giving the ruling party a two-thirds majority and tightening its control of the chamber.
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Senate President Godswill Akpabio used the occasion to take a swipe at the opposition, suggesting that the growing defections signalled disunity among minority parties.
Akpabio said he desired a strong opposition but noted that the inability of the minority parties to stay organised had left them in disarray. He mocked the Labour Party and the People’s Democratic Party, saying their structures were collapsing while urging them to rebuild.
He congratulated the APC senators on gaining another seat from Enugu and invited Minority Leader Abba Moro to respond. Moro replied firmly, saying that despite the defections, the opposition remained strong and determined.
Moro maintained respect for Akpabio’s office but stressed that opposition senators could still hold their ground. He wished Chukwu well in his new party but remarked that the senator had benefitted from the Obidient Movement’s sympathy votes in 2023.
Moro also hinted that the Senate was becoming overcrowded and urged Akpabio to take note. He assured that the remaining opposition lawmakers would stay united and focused until 2027.
Chukwu’s exit reduced the Labour Party’s representation in the Senate to four, leaving Senator Okey Ezea as the only LP member from Enugu State. The PDP now holds 28 seats, while the Social Democratic Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party have one each.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance retains two senators, as defections continue to reshape the Senate’s balance of power.
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