By Clifford Ndujihe & Henry Umoru
ABUJA – When the tenth Nationwide Meeting was inaugurated on June 12, 2023, the numerical hole between the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and opposition events within the Senate was marginal.
On the time, the APC didn’t command the energy required to train a decisive two-thirds majority on delicate nationwide points.
As of June 2023, the Senate was composed of APC 59 senators, whereas opposition events collectively held 50 seats. This steadiness meant that on essential matters-constitutional amendments, veto overrides, or impeachment-the ruling get together needed to negotiate throughout get together traces.
Two and a half years later, the panorama has undergone dramatic modifications.
As of December 20, 2025, the APC has expanded its numbers to 78 senators, leaving the opposition considerably diminished: PDP 24, APGA 2, LP 1, NNPP 1, SDP 1, and ADC 1, totalling 108 with one seat vacant on account of loss of life.
How the numbers shifted
At inception, the tenth Senate comprised members from APC, PDP, LP, APGA, NNPP, YPP and SDP.
June 2023 Breakdown
APC – 59
PDP – 36
LP – 8
NNPP – 2
SDP – 2
YPP – 1
Courtroom judgments triggered the early shifts.
In October 2023, the Courtroom of Enchantment nullified the election of Senator Abubakar Ohere (APC, Kogi Central). Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP) was sworn in on November 2, 2023.
Equally, Senator Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia Central) was sacked, and Austin Akobundu (PDP) was sworn in on November 15, 2023.
These rulings raised PDP’s tally to 38, whereas APC and LP recorded marginal losses.
Defections and collapse of opposition ranks
In October 2023, APC gained floor when the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South) defected from YPP to APC, successfully wiping out YPP illustration within the Senate.
The extra decisive realignments got here in 2025.
On October 16, 2025, Senators Benson Konbowei (Bayelsa Central) and Benson Agadaga(Bayelsa East) defected from PDP to APC, pushing APC’s energy to 76.
On November 11, 2025, Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe (Cross River North) additionally moved from PDP to APC, elevating APC’s depend to 77.
Demise, vacancies, contemporary realignments
The Senate suffered a loss on Tuesday November 18, 2025 with the loss of life of Senator Okey Ezea (LP, Enugu North) in Lagos. Born on August 11, 1963, Ezea was elected on the Labour Celebration platform in 2023.
His loss of life diminished LP’s presence and introduced the Senate’s complete membership to 108.
In early December 2025, Senator Sunday Katung (Kaduna North) defected from PDP to APC.
Additionally, Senator Ireti Kingibe left the LP for the African Democratic Congress, ADC final week.
Newest configuration now stands:
APC – 78
PDP – 24
APGA – 2
LP – 1
NNPP – 1
SDP – 1
ADC – 1
What a Two-Thirds Majority means in legislation
Below Chapter X (71) of the Senate Standing Orders 2022 (as amended), voting could also be performed by: Voice vote; Register signing; and Digital voting
With 109 statutory seats, a two-thirds majority interprets to 73 senators. Even with the present 108-member Senate, the APC comfortably surpasses this threshold with its 78 legislators.
Dominance in Home of Representatives
An analogous pattern additionally performed out within the Home of Representatives the place from a easy majority in 2023 the APC has a Two-Thirds majority.
How events stand within the Home of Reps
APC – 240
PDP – 74
LP – 25
NNPP – 15
SDP – 3
YPP – 1
A two-thirds majority is constitutionally required for amending the Structure; Overriding a presidential veto; Impeachment of the President or Vice President; approving a state of emergency; and Creation of recent states
Notably, President Bola Tinubu’s 2025 emergency rule declaration in Rivers State sparked controversy over the usage of a voice vote fairly than a recorded two-thirds majority.
Easy Majority vs Tremendous Majority
Whereas a two-thirds majority governs crucial nationwide selections, the Senate operates largely on easy majority for routine issues.
These embrace: Passage of extraordinary payments; Election of presiding officers; Committee reviews adoption; Affirmation of appointments; and Procedural motions
Payments usually require a easy majority at second and third readings, however as soon as vetoed by the President, a two-thirds vote turns into necessary for override.
Committee of the Entire
A crucial however typically neglected stage is the Committee of the Entire, the place the whole Senate:
•Examines payments clause by clause
•Introduces amendments below versatile guidelines
•Considers convention committee reviews
At this stage, the Senate President steps down from the primary chair, symbolising a much less formal, extra deliberative course of. Choices taken listed below are later reported and adopted in plenary.
Majority Energy: To Make or to Mar?
With the APC now firmly accountable for greater than two-thirds of the Senate, questions come up: Is Nigeria drifting in direction of a one-party dominance? Can the minority nonetheless present efficient oversight? Will numbers trump debate on delicate nationwide points?
The 2-thirds majority offers the APC monumental legislative leverage. Whether or not this energy will likely be used to strengthen governance or weaken democratic pluralism now rests on the management of the Senator Godwill Akpabio-led Senate.
For a lot of Nigerians, the hope stays that numerical energy will likely be deployed to make the polity, to not mar it.
The submit Unprecedented takeover: Dynamics, implications of APC’s dominance of NASS appeared first on Vanguard News.
