Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro has warned that the rising number of defections into All Progressives Congress could harm Nigeria’s democracy, likening the ruling party to a boat carrying too much weight.
Gatekeepers News reports that Moro spoke during plenary on Tuesday after Barinada Mpigi and Allwell Onyesoh, senators representing Rivers South-East and Rivers East, announced their defection from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC.
The new defectors said they left PDP due to internal divisions within the party at the national level.
The defections reduced the PDP’s seats in the Senate from 26 to 24, while increasing the APC’s numbers from 75 to 77, further strengthening the ruling party’s majority.
Reacting to the development, Moro said the growing wave of defections was unhealthy for democratic balance and could weaken opposition politics. He stressed that lawmakers have the right to change parties but warned against celebrating what he described as a dangerous trend.
He said, “In view of what has just happened, I want to say my colleagues on this part of the aisle who have moved have exercised their rights to associate as they wish.”
“Let me say here, like I have said before, that when you overload a boat midstream, the possible consequence is the load capsizing.”
The minority leader added that defectors should move with conviction and not create the impression that the opposition was collapsing.
He criticised what he saw as an open celebration of the defections, saying it sends the wrong signal about the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
Moro said, “Mr President, I think that when people move, they should have the courage to move with this conviction and not to give the impression of the imminent collapse of the PDP or the opposition. I want to insist that this is not good for democracy.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio interrupted Moro and asked him to limit his comments to the day’s business. Despite the interruption, Moro maintained that PDP had not collapsed and said the minority would continue to work in Nigeria’s interest.
Moro’s remarks were challenged by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who said the comments violated Senate rules and reflected personal opinions. Akpabio agreed that the protest did not follow procedure but noted that dissatisfaction should not be completely silenced.
