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Senator Kelvin Chukwu Defects to APC from Labour Party
Senator Kelvin Chukwu dumps Labour Party for APC, citing internal crisis. APC now holds 73 Senate seats, tightening grip on National Assembly.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has solidified its majority in the Senate following the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing Enugu East Senatorial District, from the Labour Party (LP) to the APC.
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Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the defection during Wednesday’s plenary session, bringing the APC’s total to 73 senators — granting the party a clear two-thirds majority in the 109-member Senate.
Senator Chukwu, who entered the Senate after the tragic assassination of his brother, Oyibo Chukwu, shortly before the 2023 general election, cited persistent internal crisis within the Labour Party as the reason for his decision to cross over.
“The protracted crisis rocking the LP, which has led to its fractionalisation, is a development that is seriously affecting its members,” he stated during plenary.
With Senator Chukwu’s exit, the Labour Party is now left with just four senators in the 10th Senate. From Enugu State, Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North) now stands as the LP’s only remaining representative.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) currently holds 28 seats, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) each retain one senator, and the **All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has two seats.
Senator Chukwu’s move follows a string of recent defections from opposition parties to the APC. In the past few months, four PDP senators — Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South) — have defected to the ruling party.
Some of the senators invoked Sections 40 and 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provide for the right to freedom of association and protection in the case of division within a political party.
Political analysts and civil society observers have expressed growing concern over what appears to be a slide toward one-party dominance in the Senate.
Critics warn that this development could undermine the system of checks and balances, weaken legislative scrutiny, and limit democratic accountability.
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Despite these warnings, the APC continues to consolidate power in both legislative chambers, with defections bolstering its influence ahead of major legislative debates and policy rollouts.
Reps seek federal relief for Edo tanker explosion victims, urging NEMA aid, market rehabilitation and urgent repairs to the Benin-Lagos Expressway.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to provide relief materials, financial assistance and rehabilitation support to victims of the deadly petrol tanker explosion at Oluku in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
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The lawmakers also urged the government to repair dangerous sections of the Benin-Lagos Expressway around Oluku to reduce the risk of similar disasters.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Omosede Igbinedion, a lawmaker representing a constituency in Edo State, during plenary on Wednesday, October 21.
The Edo tanker explosion occurred on Thursday, October 15, when a petrol tanker reportedly lost control and overturned near Oluku Market, spilling fuel that later ignited and spread to nearby businesses.
According to the motion, the fire caused fatalities and serious injuries while destroying shops, stalls, vehicles, goods and other property.
The damage also left traders and their families facing substantial financial losses and the loss of their livelihoods.
Presenting the motion, Igbinedion said the incident had caused widespread hardship, with some victims losing their savings and facing mounting financial difficulties.
She also raised concerns about reports of severe burns among survivors, some of whom reportedly required emergency treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and other medical facilities.
The lawmaker said the scale of the destruction required federal intervention to complement the Edo State Government’s response.
She commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for visiting the scene and affected victims, as well as pledging to rebuild the damaged market and support traders.
However, she argued that additional assistance was necessary to provide immediate relief, restore livelihoods and help affected families recover from the disaster.
Following the motion’s adoption, the House urged the National Emergency Management Agency to assess the damage and provide relief materials, financial support and rehabilitation assistance to victims.
It also called on the Federal Government to work with the Edo State Government to rebuild the affected market and support the recovery of businesses disrupted by the fire.
The lawmakers further urged the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to inspect and urgently rehabilitate dangerous sections of the Benin-Lagos Expressway around Oluku.
In another resolution, the House directed the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and other relevant agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, fuel spillage, evacuation efforts and subsequent fire.
The agencies were also asked to recommend preventive measures, particularly along major highways where fuel tankers operate close to markets, shops and residential communities.
The incident has renewed concerns about the dangers of attempting to collect fuel from overturned tankers. Spilled petrol can ignite rapidly, exposing people nearby to potentially fatal fires and explosions.
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The House’s resolutions seek to address both the immediate needs of affected residents and the wider safety concerns raised by the disaster. Federal assistance, road repairs and a thorough investigation are expected to support recovery efforts and help reduce the likelihood of similar incidents.
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