Nigeria’s political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections intensified on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, as two serving senators from Rivers State, a major oil producing region in southern Nigeria, formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the governing All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers, Senator Allwell Onyesoh and Senator Barinada Mpigi, announced their decisions separately during plenary proceedings at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the country’s highest legislative chamber located in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.
Okay News reports that the defections were carried out in the presence of a high level delegation of leaders from the All Progressives Congress at both the national and Rivers State levels, signaling the ruling party’s growing influence in the South South geopolitical zone ahead of the next election cycle.
Senator Allwell Onyesoh, who represents Rivers East Senatorial District, said his departure from the opposition party followed extensive consultations with political leaders, community stakeholders, and constituents across his district.
“Since the hour I arrived to officially announce my defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, this decision is coming on the heels of several consultations with Rivers East Senatorial District people, whose collective aspirations I represent,” he said.
The lawmaker emphasized that his loyalty was first and foremost to the people who elected him, rather than to any political organization.
“Political parties are channels for the exploration of political interests. It was on this basis that I got elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. However, recent events have revealed the importance of aligning with the centre and the political will to transform the fortunes of my people with structures that can facilitate good governance,” Onyesoh added.
He further assured residents of Rivers East that his development plans would not be affected by his change of party, stressing that his focus on human capital development and economic empowerment remained firm.
According to him, his commitment to the progress of Rivers East “remains unwavering, through seasons, through times, and even through parties.”
In a similar move, Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represents Rivers South East Senatorial District, anchored his defection on constitutional grounds, citing prolonged internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party at every level of its structure.
“In accordance with Section 68, subsection one, paragraph g of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I hereby announce my defection to the All Progressives Congress,” Mpigi declared on the Senate floor.
He argued that unresolved disputes within the opposition party had eroded internal authority, making continued membership impractical.
“The Peoples Democratic Party has unresolved issues and divisions at the national, state, local government and even ward levels, resulting in a breakdown of effective party authority in Rivers State and particularly in my senatorial district,” he said.
“These circumstances clearly constitute a division within the meaning of the Constitution, rendering continued membership untenable and impractical.”
While expressing appreciation to his former party for providing him the platform to become a federal legislator, Mpigi maintained that the environment within the party had become unstable for elected officials.
“I respectfully request my colleagues to understand. I thank my former party for allowing me to enter the Red Chamber, but they are aware that they have not been able to resolve issues that can make a legislator comfortable running under their banner,” he stated.
Senior figures of the All Progressives Congress, including the party’s National Secretary, South South National Vice Chairman, Deputy National Chairman for Northern Nigeria, National Youth Leader, and the Rivers State Chairman, formally received the defectors, describing their decisions as a strategic boost ahead of the 2027 elections.
With the latest development, the ruling party has further strengthened its numerical advantage in the Senate, while the Peoples Democratic Party continues to battle internal divisions and a shrinking presence in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber.
