Just in: APC’s Senate Numbers Swell as Kano Senator Defects from NNPP

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate gained another member on Wednesday with the defection of Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the majority party.

In a letter read on the floor of the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Sumaila said his decision to leave the NNPP was anchored on “compelling and undeniable developments” within the party that had rendered it severely divided and dysfunctional.

The letter titled, “Notification of defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC)”, reads: “Pursuant to Section 68, Subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I write to the Senate President on behalf of the Senate.

“I write to formally notify the Senate through your esteemed office of my defection from the NNPP to the APC, the largest party in Africa.

“My decision to bid goodbye to the NNPP is anchored on compelling and undeniable developments within the party, which have rendered the party severely divided and dysfunctional. Over the past months, I have observed a growing number of litigations that have practically torn the party apart and left its structure fractured.

“All of which clearly centred on issues of party disunity, functional leadership, and the legitimacy of its operations. These legal battles have not only eroded internal cohesion but have created parallel and conflicting authorities within the party.”

The lawmaker added that a further manifestation of the division was the emergence of multiple factions, each with its own distinct party logo.

He said this underscored the depth of the division, reflecting a clear and public splintering of the party’s identity in both form and substance.

“Therefore, in the spirit of democratic accountability and in line with my constitutional right, I have moved to APC, a national platform, an international platform, which I believe will better support my legislative responsibilities and aspirations of the good people of my senatorial district,” he added.

In the past months, several senators from other parties had defected to the APC, swelling its ranks, with Sen. Ned Nwoko’s switch from PDP to APC in February 2025 being one of the notable examples.