Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Now The Majority In The Nigerian Senate
Abuja, Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Fifteen Senators of Nigeria’s ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), deserted their Party and defected to the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), today, in Abuja. The defectors are as follows: Senator Abdul-Azeez Murtala Nyako, Senator Danbaba Abdullahi, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Gemade Barnabas, Senator Isa Misau, Senator Monsurat Sunmunu, Senator Nafada Usman, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, Senator Rafiu Kwankwaso, Senator Shaaba Lafiaji, Senator Shittu Ubali, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, Senator Suleiman Nazif, and Senator Tejouso Lanre. There are unconfirmed indications that Senator Monsurat Sunmunu defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) instead of the PDP.
The Senators stated simply in their joint letter to the Senate President: “After due consultation, with our constituents and stakeholders in our constituency, in proper recognition of section 16 (1G) of the 1999 Constitution. . . We hereby inform you that we are changing our political affiliation from APC to PDP. . .”
This surprise political development has momentous legal and political implications, as it makes the main opposition Party the majority Party in Nigeria’s apex federal parliament and alters the balance of power in the Senate. Another curious situation is that whilst the Nigerian Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, is a member of the APC, the Nigerian Senate Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is a member of the PDP. Nigerian Lawyers Directory learnt that Senator Dr Bukola Saraki presided over the Senate Plenary during which the defections were made, but his Deputy was prevented from attending the session due to security circumstances beyond his control. Later in the day, on Channels TV, one of the defectors, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, explained the justification for the defections while the Majority Leader of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, was sceptical about their intentions.
Nigeria’s National Assembly is governed by Sections 47 – 89, Chapter V, Part I of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (the Nigerian Constitution). Sections 47 – 49 of the Nigerian Constitution states:
Section 47: Establishment of the National Assembly
- There shall be a National Assembly for the Federation which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Section 48: Composition of the Senate
- The Senate shall consist of three Senators from each State and one from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Section 49: Composition of the House of Representatives
- Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the House of Representatives shall consist of three hundred and sixty members representing constituencies of nearly equal population as far as possible, provided that no constituency shall fall within more than one State.
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