- Akpabio joked that lawmakers leaving the party should submit their defections collectively
- He quipped that the steady exits gave the impression that the ADC was no longer viable
- he also questioned how often politicians could switch parties within a short period
Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday made a lighthearted remark in the Senate, suggesting that the African Democratic Congress had been weakened by a wave of defections by its members.
Presiding over plenary, Eko Hot Blog reports that the Senate President reacted after several lawmakers formally announced their exit from the party, with some joining the Nigerian Democratic Congress and others moving to the Labour Party.
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Among those who defected was Victor Umeh, who cited internal disputes and ongoing legal battles within the ADC as reasons for his decision.
Commenting on the repeated announcements, Akpabio joked that lawmakers leaving the party should submit their defections collectively instead of making frequent individual declarations.
He quipped that the steady exits gave the impression that the ADC was no longer viable.
In a humorous tone, he also questioned how often politicians could switch parties within a short period, noting that some had changed affiliations multiple times in just one month.
Akpabio further suggested a more organised approach to handling defections on the Senate floor, proposing that lawmakers moving to the same party should present their notices together to avoid constant interruptions during proceedings.
During the session, he also read a letter from Enyinnaya Abaribe, highlighting his movement across different parties over time, including his latest switch to the Labour Party.
The remarks come as political realignments continue within the National Assembly, with several members of the House of Representatives also leaving the ADC for the NDC.
In his resignation letter, Umeh maintained that the persistent leadership crisis and unresolved court cases within the ADC made it difficult for him to remain in the party, adding that he would continue his political contributions through his new platform.
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