Nigeria’s political landscape is witnessing a significant realignment as a growing number of opposition leaders and lawmakers defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), raising concerns about the future of multi-party democracy in the country.
Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in May 2023, the APC has steadily consolidated its power, gaining ground in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Initially, the APC held 59 seats in the Senate and 175 in the House of Representatives, with the opposition parties controlling the remainder. However, in the months that followed, at least six senators and 24 House members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have defected to the APC, giving the ruling party an estimated 265 seats across both chambers.