Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday joked that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was “effectively dead” following a fresh wave of defections by lawmakers to other political parties.

Akpabio made the remark during plenary after several defections were announced, including that of Victor Umeh, who moved to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), citing internal crises and persistent litigation within the ADC.

“Maybe all those defecting from ADC should just compile everything in one paper and bring it… because I think ADC is dead,” Akpabio said in a light-hearted tone.

He also questioned the increasing frequency of defections among lawmakers, joking that some politicians had switched parties multiple times within a short period.

“How many times can you defect in a month? Once. But some have done three times,” he added.

The Senate President suggested a more coordinated process for announcing defections, urging lawmakers to submit their notices collectively to avoid what he described as a “daily ritual” during plenary sessions.

During the sitting, Akpabio also read a defection letter from Enyinnaya Abaribe, noting his movement across multiple parties over the years from APGA to ADC, and now to the Labour Party.

The development reflects broader political realignments within the National Assembly, with reports indicating that at least 17 members of the House of Representatives have also defected from the ADC to the NDC.

In his resignation letter, Umeh cited “lingering divisions in the leadership and unending litigation” within the ADC as reasons for his departure, adding that he remains committed to contributing to national development through his new political platform.