The Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Tony Nwoye, has emerged as the new Minority Whip of the Senate following series of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Nwoye was unanimously chosen by the Senate minority caucus at Wednesday’s plenary to assume the position.
His emergence comes after his predecessor, Senator Osita Ngwu, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
In a letter read on the floor of the Senate by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ngwu said his decision was informed by his desire to align with Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and President Bola Tinubu.
He described the APC as the most stable political platform in the country right now.
Senator Nwoye was elected into the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), before defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in late 2025.
Read Also: Deputy Speaker Defends Party Defections as Democratic Freedom
Wike Urges PDP to Engage Defectors Ahead of 2027 Elections
Party Crisis Cited as Reasons for Defections
In a related development, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro, representing Gombe South, also announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, citing persistent internal crises within his former party.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, formally confirmed his move from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the ruling party, APC.
Senator Wadada, who has also been endorsed as the APC’s consensus governorship candidate for Nasarawa State ahead of the 2027 elections, disclosed that although he had joined the APC earlier, the formalities of his defection were concluded on Wednesday.
Reacting to the defections, Senator Adams Oshiomhole commended the lawmakers for making their decisions peacefully and in accordance with constitutional provisions.
He said that the increasing number of defections to the APC reflects confidence in the party’s leadership and the administration of President Tinubu.
The latest defections bring the total of APC lawmakers to 91, ADC 9, PDP 4, NDC 1, and Accord Party 1.
Last month, the President of the Senate, Senator Akpabio declared three senatorial seats vacant following the deaths of members of the 10th Senate.
Vacant Seats
The vacancies affect Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, and Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Their seats became vacant following the deaths of the lawmakers who represented the constituencies.
The deceased senators are Okechukuwu Ezea (Enugu North), Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North), and Barinada Mpigi (Rivers South-East).
Senator Akpabio subsequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill the vacancies within the timeframe stipulated by law.