The ruling All Progressives Congress on Thursday gained another foothold in the National Assembly following the defection of Senator Friday Konbowei from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to its fold.
Konbowei, who represents Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, announced his defection in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary before the close of the day’s session.
In the letter, the lawmaker attributed his decision to the “intractable crises bedeviling the Peoples Democratic Party,” saying he could no longer remain in a party plagued by persistent internal wranglings and leadership disputes.
His defection is seen as a major boost to the APC, which has been steadily expanding its influence in the 10th Senate through a series of defections from opposition ranks in recent weeks.
With Konbowei’s move, the APC now commands a comfortable two-thirds majority of 74 seats, consolidating its dominance in the upper legislative chamber and tightening President Bola Tinubu’s legislative backing.
The PDP’s strength in the Senate has now dropped to 27 seats, while the Social Democratic Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party retain one senator each. The All Progressives Grand Alliance maintains two.
Konbowei’s exit also further weakens the PDP’s presence in the South-South region — once regarded as one of its traditional strongholds — and signals the continuing realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general elections
