Senator Kelvin Chukwu defects to APC from LP, citing collapse of internal democracy and party structure in Enugu East. APC now holds 73 Senate seats
Senator Kelvin Chukwu defects to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Labour Party (LP), citing the collapse of internal democracy and the party’s deteriorating structure as his reasons for leaving.
Also read: Senator Mudashiru Husain Sends Warm Felicitations to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Birthday
The Enugu East Senator’s defection was formally announced during Tuesday’s Senate plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who welcomed the move with congratulatory remarks.
Chukwu, who was elected under the LP platform, declared that the party no longer reflects the democratic ideals it once claimed to represent.
“The Labour Party has collapsed internally. Its structure is tattered. There is no longer any form of internal democracy,” he stated.
Akpabio, responding to the defection, said that the presence of multiple parties is essential for Nigeria’s democratic balance. “We will not have a one-party state. INEC will continue to register more parties,” he noted.
With Chukwu’s move, the APC now controls 73 seats in the 109-member Senate, strengthening its majority. The current composition is as follows: APC 73, PDP 28, LP 4, NNPP 1, SDP 1, and APGA 2.
Chukwu’s departure is a significant blow to the Labour Party’s representation in the Senate, which continues to shrink amid internal crises and defections.
Also read: Atiku Abubakar 2023 Election Candidacy Regretted by PDP, Senator Abba Moro Says
The senator’s exit underscores growing concerns over the Labour Party’s direction post-2023 elections, as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 polls.
