‘The umbrella is torn’: Akpabio taunts opposition after LP senator defection

The Senate chamber briefly turned into a scene of political drama on Wednesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Minority Leader Abba Moro clashed over the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Chukwu, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District, announced his defection during plenary, blaming the move on the protracted crisis within the Labour Party.

His defection swells the APC’s strength in the 10th Senate to 73 members — giving the ruling party a two-thirds majority and tightening its grip on the upper chamber.

Reacting, Akpabio taunted the opposition, saying the defections were signs of disarray among minority parties.

Akpabio said, “I want a strong and vibrant opposition in Nigeria. But where they are not able to organise themselves and all the political parties are in tatters, then the right thing for them to do is to join me so that we can together move this country forward.

“We are not going to have a one-party system. That’s why INEC is registering more parties. Please, put your house in order. I have been looking at the way you are getting depleted on daily basis, and I am in total sympathy with what is going on.

“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 senators for “gaining a strong senatorial district in Enugu,” before mockingly inviting Moro to respond.

Unimpressed, the Minority Leader fired back, insisting the opposition remained resolute despite defections.

“I want to say with due respect that you are the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I respect you, sir.

“Without prejudice to some achievements that Mr President has made, I want to say that no matter the number that are here, we are capable of holding our own,” Moro said.

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Moro added that those who are gravitating towards the majority are exercising their rights.

Moro added, “But I want to wish my brother and friend, Kelvin, who has just left the third row here, to go to the last row there, good luck.

“When it was announced that he was going, and had made adequate consultations, I asked the question, who has he consulted? Because he didn’t talk to me. I do know that my brother came here on the back of the Obidient Movement. He came here on a sympathy vote. But that is a story for another day.

“This house is becoming too full, and it should be of concern to you. For the rest of us that are here, Mr. President, we are satisfied that we are still here, and we will try to remain here until 2027.”

Chukwu’s defection further depletes the Labour Party’s representation in the Senate to just four members, leaving Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North) as the only LP senator from Enugu State.

The PDP currently holds 28 seats, while the Social Democratic Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party have one each.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance retains two senators.

Wednesday’s defection marks yet another blow to the opposition camp, coming months after four senators—Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South)—dumped the PDP for the APC over internal wrangling.