Three senators have defected from their respective parties, citing persistent internal crises and leadership disputes.

Victor Umeh and Enyinnaya Abaribe both resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Rufai Hanga left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Umeh joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Abaribe moved to the Labour Party (LP), and Hanga also aligned with the NDC.

The defections were conveyed in separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during plenary on Tuesday.

In his letter, Umeh said his decision followed consultations with stakeholders, attributing his exit to unresolved divisions and ongoing litigation within the ADC.

“I have taken this decision… in view of the lingering divisions in the leadership and unending litigations,” he stated, adding that he would continue to contribute to national development through his new platform.

Abaribe similarly cited the party’s deepening leadership crisis and multiple legal challenges as reasons for his immediate resignation from the ADC and defection to the Labour Party.

Hanga’s move from the NNPP to the NDC adds to the shifting political alignments within the Senate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Reacting to the developments, Akpabio made a light-hearted remark about the frequency of party switches, joking that he might stop announcing future defections if they persist.

The latest moves underscore growing instability within opposition parties and ongoing political realignments across Nigeria’s political landscape.