When the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated on June 12, 2023, the balance of power in the Senate was far from settled. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) held 59 seats, while opposition parties collectively controlled 50. With such a narrow gap, the APC lacked the two-thirds majority needed to push through sensitive national decisions without reaching across party lines.
At that point, issues like constitutional amendments, impeachment proceedings or veto overrides required negotiation and compromise. The Senate, though APC-led, was still very much a contested space where opposition voices mattered.
Two and a half years later, the situation has changed significantly. As of December 20, 2025, the APC has grown its Senate strength to 78 members. In contrast, the opposition has been reduced to PDP with 24 seats, APGA 2, LP 1, NNPP 1, SDP 1 and ADC 1, bringing the total to 108 senators following the death of one member.
This shift did not happen overnight. The early changes came through court rulings in late 2023. Senator Abubakar Ohere of APC lost his Kogi Central seat after a Court of Appeal judgment, leading to the swearing-in of PDP’s Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. In a similar development, Labour Party’s Darlington Nwokocha was removed, and PDP’s Austin Akobundu took his place. These rulings temporarily boosted the PDP’s numbers.
The more decisive changes, however, came through defections. In October 2023, the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah moved from YPP to APC, effectively eliminating YPP from the Senate. By 2025, defections intensified. Senators from Bayelsa and Cross River crossed over from PDP to APC, steadily swelling the ruling party’s ranks.
The death of Senator Okey Ezea of the Labour Party in November 2025 further weakened the opposition. Soon after, more defections followed, including Senator Sunday Katung from PDP to APC and Senator Ireti Kingibe from LP to ADC, leaving the APC firmly in control.
With 109 statutory seats, a two-thirds majority requires 73 senators. Even with one seat vacant, the APC’s 78 senators comfortably clear that bar. This gives the party enormous power over key national decisions that require supermajority approval.
A similar pattern has played out in the House of Representatives, where the APC has also moved from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority. This dominance means the ruling party can amend the Constitution, override presidential vetoes, approve states of emergency and even initiate impeachment proceedings with little resistance.
Still, not all legislative business requires such numbers. Many routine Senate activities operate on a simple majority, including passing ordinary bills, confirming appointments and adopting committee reports. Yet, on critical national questions, the APC now holds overwhelming influence.
This growing dominance has sparked concerns among observers. Is Nigeria drifting towards one-party control? Can a weakened opposition still provide meaningful oversight? Will debate and dissent survive in a legislature where numbers can easily silence minority voices?
Ultimately, the power now resting in the hands of the APC-led National Assembly could either strengthen governance or weaken democratic balance. For many Nigerians, the hope is that this numerical advantage will be used to build the nation, not undermine its democratic foundations.
