Senate Minority Whip, Senator Tony Nwoye, on Wednesday defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing irreconcilable crisis and multiple litigations at the Federal High Court.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, read Nwoye’s resignation letter during plenary on Wednesday in Abuja and directed the Clerk of the Senate to update official records accordingly.
According to the letter, Nwoye stated that he had formally resigned from the ADC and joined the NDC, attributing his decision to internal crises within the party.
“I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and my intention to defect to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC),” he said.
“The decision has become necessary due to internal divisions and the ongoing multiple litigations at the Federal High Court, as well as court judgments affecting the party, which have unfortunately impacted the formation and stability of the party.”
He explained that the internal divisions and legal battles had adversely affected the party’s cohesion and overall stability.
Akpabio, after reading the letter, wished the lawmaker well in his new political party.
Nwoye emerged as the new Minority Whip of the Senate amid a wave of defections that has reshaped the composition of the upper chamber.
His emergence came after the defection of his predecessor, Senator Osita Ngwu, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Following the latest development, the party composition in the Senate now stands at: APC – 87, ADC – 7, PDP – 4, NDC – 4, APGA – 1, Accord – 1, and Labour Party – 1.
Meanwhile, three seats remain vacant following the deaths of Senators Godiya Akwashiki, Barinada Mpigi, and Okechukwu Okey Ezea.
In addition, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has vacated his seat after assuming office as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the United Nations (UN), making the total vacant seats in the Senate four.
