APC tightens Senate grip with 88 seats after by-elections

Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has further solidified its dominance in the Senate, boosting its membership to 88 lawmakers after the recent inauguration of four senators elected in by-elections.

The party secured three additional senatorial seats in the June by-elections held in Ondo, Enugu, and Nasarawa states. The newly sworn-in senators include Ikeje Asogwa (Enugu North), Dayo Faduyile (Ondo South), and Danladi Envulu-Anza (Nasarawa North). The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also had one senator, Olaka Nwogu representing Rivers South-East, sworn in.

This numerical increase comes despite a recent wave of defections from the APC. Several aggrieved aspirants and lawmakers have left the party, citing issues such as candidate imposition, injustice, and a lack of internal democracy during the party's primaries for the 2027 elections. Notable defectors include former Inspector-General of Police Abubakar Adamu, Senators Shehu Buba and Sama’ila Dahuwa from Bauchi State, and Senator Garba Maidoki from Kebbi State.

Despite these departures, the APC continues to expand its senatorial advantage through a combination of by-election victories and defections into the party. This sustained growth reinforces the APC's majority in the National Assembly, even as internal party challenges persist.

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Despite the recent wave of defections triggered by grievances over the APC primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, the party still maintains the majority in the National Assembly.