Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has downplayed concerns that the increasing number of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate poses any danger to Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Oshiomhole addressed the recent defection of three senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, bringing the party’s Senate strength to 68—just shy of a two-thirds majority.
“Whether this is a danger to democracy? No, I don’t think so,” the former APC National Chairman stated on Tuesday.
He emphasized that party dominance in parliament does not suppress dissent or democratic debate. “If you’ve been following debates in the Senate, sometimes you can’t even distinguish who is PDP or APC in terms of the positions people take,” he said.
Citing the United States as an example, Oshiomhole noted that aligned legislatures are common in functional democracies. He also reiterated that his allegiance lies with the Nigerian people above party interests.
“The first party is the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stressed. “If I see a conflict between party interest and national interest, I have no difficulty in resolving it in favour of Nigeria.”
On the recent defections, Oshiomhole expressed satisfaction, noting that the senators who crossed over—Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South)—were originally among APC’s founding members. He also dismissed claims of coercion, saying the decisions were voluntary.
The defections followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and other senior APC figures.
With the additions, the composition of the 10th Senate now stands as: APC – 68, PDP – 30, Labour Party – 5, NNPP – 1, SDP – 2, and APGA – 1.
Comments