Wadada, Ngwu defect to APC as Nwoye emerges Minority Whip

…Tinubu seeks confirmation of ministerial nominee

Two opposition senators formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, as the Senate also announced changes within the minority caucus.

The defectors are Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, who moved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Senator Osita Ngwu, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) citing internal crises in his former party.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read their letters of defection on the floor.

Wadada’s move comes amid his recent endorsement by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule as a preferred successor. 

Following Ngwu’s defection, Senator Tony Nwoye was appointed the new Minority Whip.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the name of Muttaqha Rabe Darma to the Senate for screening and confirmation as a minister.

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Akpabio assured that the Senate would expedite the confirmation process once the nominee clears security checks.

The nomination follows a minor cabinet reshuffle by the President on Tuesday, which led to the removal of Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

In a separate communication, Tinubu also sought Senate confirmation for Lamido Abubakar Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Both requests have been referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

The Senate also raised concerns over renewed Boko Haram attacks on military formations in Borno State. A motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno highlighted the killing of several personnel, including senior officers.

Lawmakers warned that repeated attacks in areas such as Monguno and Benisheikh pose significant security risks and disrupt economic and humanitarian activities.

While commending the Armed Forces, the Senate called for a thorough investigation into the incidents and observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims.