APC strengthens Senate majority with 88 lawmakers after by-elections

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has increased its strength in the Senate to 88 members after four newly elected senators were sworn into office following recent by-elections, further strengthening the party’s control of the upper legislative chamber.

The new lawmakers were inaugurated by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on June 24 after emerging victorious in the by-elections held in Ondo, Enugu, Nasarawa and Rivers states. Three of the new senators belong to the APC, while one was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC lawmakers sworn in are Ikeje Asogwa for Enugu North, Dayo Faduyile for Ondo South and Danladi Envulu-Anza for Nasarawa North. Olaka Nwogu of the PDP also took his seat as the senator representing Rivers South-East.

Their inauguration increased the APC’s Senate membership from 85 to 88, despite the party recently losing several members through defections linked to disagreements over its 2027 governorship and legislative primaries.

Some lawmakers and aspirants left the APC after accusing the party leadership of unfair treatment and denying them opportunities to contest in the primaries. Among them was former Inspector-General of Police Abubakar Adamu, who resigned after failing to secure the APC governorship ticket in Nasarawa State.

Senators Shehu Buba and Sama’ila Dahuwa from Bauchi State also left the ruling party after losing their bids for governorship and second-term Senate tickets. They cited lack of fairness during the APC primaries as the reason for their exit.

Another senator, Garba Maidoki of Kebbi South, also dumped the APC for the African Democratic Congress after he was screened out of the party’s senatorial primary. Maidoki had earlier joined the APC from the PDP in 2025 alongside two other Kebbi senators.

Despite these defections, the APC has continued to strengthen its position through victories in by-elections and the movement of some lawmakers into the party.

When the 10th Senate was inaugurated in June 2023, the APC controlled 59 seats. That figure has now risen to 88. During the same period, the PDP’s membership dropped from 36 senators to five.

The Labour Party, which started the current Senate with eight members, now has only one senator. The New Nigeria Peoples Party has lost both of its Senate seats, while the Social Democratic Party no longer has representation in the chamber. The All Progressives Grand Alliance has retained its only seat.

The African Democratic Congress now has nine senators after having no representation at the inauguration of the current Senate. The Accord Party has one senator, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress continues to hold one seat through Bayelsa West Senator Seriake Dickson.

With the inauguration of the four new lawmakers, all 109 Senate seats are now occupied.

The Enugu North seat became vacant after the death of former Senator Okey Ezea in November 2025. Ikeje Asogwa won the by-election by defeating the PDP candidate with a wide margin.

In Rivers South-East, Olaka Nwogu secured victory in the by-election conducted after the death of Senator Barry Mpigi.
Dayo Faduyile won the Ondo South seat following the appointment of former Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Danladi Envulu-Anza emerged victorious in Nasarawa North after the seat became vacant following the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki after a prolonged illness.