Defections and Court Decisions Leave Labour Party Without a Single Senator

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The Labour Party (LP) has officially been reduced to zero senators in the 10th National Assembly, barely two years after the inauguration of the chamber. The party originally held eight seats in June 2023, but a combination of defections, court rulings, and the death of a sitting lawmaker has completely eroded its presence in the upper house.

According to a detailed report by the Nigerian Tribune, the mass exodus stems primarily from internal disputes and dwindling political prospects within the LP, prompting several senators to seek stability in rival parties, notably the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Defections to APC and ADC

Three LP senators moved to the APC over the past two years. Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi (Imo East) was the first to defect in July 2024, followed by Neda Imasuen (Edo South) in June 2025, and Kelvin Chukwu (Enugu East) in October 2025, citing persistent crises within the party as his reason for leaving.

Another trio of senators joined the ADC, including Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North). While Kingibe’s defection has been officially recognized, the formal acknowledgment of Umeh and Nwoye’s moves is still pending in the Senate.

Legal Challenges and Casualties

Judicial interventions have further accelerated the party’s decline. In November 2023, the Court of Appeal in Lagos annulled the election of Darlington Nwokeocha (Abia Central), declaring Augustine Akobundu of the PDP as the rightful winner. Additionally, the death of Okey Ezea (Enugu North) in November 2025 created another vacancy that the LP now faces an uphill battle to reclaim through a by-election.

Current Senate Composition

With these developments, the LP no longer has any senators in the 10th National Assembly. The APC currently dominates with 77 seats, the PDP holds 25, and smaller parties are represented as follows: ADC (4), All Progressives Grand Alliance (1), New Nigeria Peoples Party (1), and Social Democratic Party (1).

Analysis

The collapse of LP’s Senate representation underscores the fragility of smaller parties in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly when internal conflicts coincide with aggressive poaching by dominant parties. Analysts suggest that unless the LP undertakes structural reforms, cultivates stronger grassroots support, and resolves internal leadership tensions, it risks continued marginalization ahead of the 2027 elections.

The situation also highlights a broader trend of political realignment in Nigeria, where lawmakers increasingly migrate to parties perceived as more viable, raising questions about the stability and accountability of multi-party democracy in the country.