Akpabio made the comment while presiding over plenary, shortly after the Senate officially announced the defection of several lawmakers, including Victor Umeh, who moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress. The lawmakers cited internal disputes and persistent litigation within the ADC as reasons for their decision.
While addressing the chamber, Akpabio suggested that repeated announcements of defections had become excessive. He stated that those leaving the ADC should consider submitting their notices collectively rather than individually, adding that, in his view, the party no longer holds significant relevance.
His remarks drew reactions from fellow lawmakers, as he continued in a lighthearted manner, questioning the frequency with which some legislators switch political affiliations.
He noted that while defection is typically expected to occur once within a given period, some lawmakers have changed parties multiple times in a short span, a situation he described with amusement.
The Senate President proposed a more structured approach to handling such movements. He advised that lawmakers intending to defect should present their decisions in groups according to their destination parties, whether they are leaving the Labour Party, departing from the ADC, or joining the NDC. According to him, this would prevent the process from appearing repetitive during plenary sessions.
During the sitting, Akpabio also read a defection letter from Enyinnaya Abaribe, highlighting his recent political movements across parties.
He observed that Abaribe had previously moved from APGA to the ADC and has now transitioned from the ADC to the Labour Party Nigeria. Akpabio added jokingly that future announcements might no longer be read individually on the Senate floor.
These developments come amid ongoing political realignments within the National Assembly. In the House of Representatives, no fewer than sixteen members have reportedly defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Among those mentioned are lawmakers such as Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, and Lilian Orogbu, among others.
In his resignation letter presented at the Senate, Umeh pointed to ongoing divisions within the leadership of the ADC and persistent legal battles as key reasons for his departure, stating that the circumstances made it difficult to remain in the party.
He reaffirmed his commitment to contributing to national development, noting that he intends to continue his efforts through the platform of the NDC.
