Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro has issued a stark warning, stating that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is endangering Nigeria's democracy through a relentless wave of defections. He likened the party to a boat being overloaded in the middle of a river, a situation he said risks a catastrophic capsize.
Defections Spark Heated Senate Debate
The warning came during a tense plenary session on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. The drama unfolded after two senators from Rivers State, Barinada Mpigi (Rivers South-East) and Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), officially defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The defection ceremony was unusually public, with APC leaders and members allowed into the Senate chamber after the suspension of normal rules to witness the event. Following the resumption of plenary, Senator Moro seized the moment to voice his profound concerns about the political shift.
"You Can't Beat a Child and Ask Him Not to Cry"
While acknowledging the senators' constitutional right to freedom of association, Moro framed the defections as a direct threat to the health of Nigeria's democracy. "When you overload a boat midstream, the possible consequence is the load capsizing," he stated, using a powerful metaphor to illustrate his point.
He expressed disappointment that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was celebrating the defections. "I find it a little unfortunate that the leader of the senate is congratulating himself and his party on the dangerous drift of Nigeria's democracy," Moro said. He defiantly added, "Contrary to the impression, I want to insist that this side of the aisle has not collapsed."
Rule Breach or Valid Protest?
Moro's remarks immediately drew objections from Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who accused the Minority Leader of breaching Senate rules by not speaking under the correct order. Senate President Akpabio upheld the objection, stating that Moro's method of protest was invalid as the defection letters had already been formally read and deferred.
However, Akpabio showed a hint of understanding, referencing Moro's own analogy: "If you beat a child, you don't stop him from crying." This suggested an acknowledgment of the opposition's right to express dissatisfaction, even if the procedure was contested.
The Political Calculus and Fallout
The defection of the two senators has a direct impact on the numbers in the upper legislative chamber. The PDP's representation shrinks from 26 to 24 senators, while the APC's strength grows from 75 to 77 seats, further solidifying its majority.
Senators Mpigi and Onyesoh attributed their move to internal divisions and crises within the PDP at the national level, a common reason cited by defectors. Moro's core argument, however, remains that such sustained movement weakens the opposition, upsets the democratic balance of power, and creates a precarious political environment for the nation.
The event underscores the ongoing volatility in Nigeria's political landscape, where party allegiance remains fluid and the strength of institutions is continually tested by the ambitions of individual politicians.
