Bayelsa Central Senator, Friday Konbowei, has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening the opposition party’s troubles and strengthening the APC’s dominance in the National Assembly.
Konbowei’s defection was confirmed on Thursday through a letter he addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, which was read aloud during plenary before the session ended. The senator explained that his decision to leave the PDP was driven by what he described as “endless internal wranglings and leadership crises” that have crippled the party’s unity and effectiveness.
“I can no longer remain in a political house divided against itself,” the lawmaker reportedly said, alluding to the infighting that has long plagued the PDP.
The APC, which has been making steady political inroads in the 10th Senate, welcomed Konbowei’s move as another strategic gain. His defection gives the ruling party a stronger foothold in the upper chamber, with its seat count now standing at 74 — a comfortable two-thirds majority that further consolidates President Bola Tinubu’s influence in the legislature.
Meanwhile, the PDP’s representation in the Senate has dropped to 27 members. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) now have one senator each, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) retains two.
Political observers say Konbowei’s switch is particularly significant because it further weakens the PDP’s standing in the South-South — a region once considered one of its strongest bases. The defection also reflects the ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as more lawmakers reposition themselves for relevance in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.