Political commentators, along with a previous senator, have indicated that the continuous flow of defectors from opposing parties to the All Progressives Congress is bolstering President Bola Tinubu’s control over the national legislative body.

Findings by
Sunday PUNCH
disclosed that at least 15 legislators have switched from opposition parties to the governing APC in the National Assembly since the start of the 10thAssembly session.

Initially, the opposition dominated the 360-seat House of Representatives and had a substantial representation in the 109-member Senate.

Within the Green Chamber, the governing APC had secured 175 seats, whereas the opposing factions together maintained 182 seats.

The breakdown indicated that the People’s Democratic Party held 118 seats, trailed by the Labour Party with 35, the New Nigeria Peoples Party with 19, the All Progressives Grand Alliance with five, the SocialDemocraticParty with two, the African DemocraticCongress with two, and the YoungProgressivesParty with one.

Within the Red Chamber, the APC held a narrow advantage with 59 seats compared to the opposition’s total of 50.

Nevertheless, starting from July 2023, a continuous stream of defectors has diminished the numerical superiority of the opposition, strengthening the APC’s control over both legislative bodies.

At least eight PDP members in the House of Representatives switched their allegiance to the APC during this time.

The LP experienced a loss of six members across both legislative chambers, whereas the NNPP had one of its legislators switch allegiance to the governing party.

Political analysts suggest that this series of defections has strengthened the governing party’s control over the Assembly, thereby facilitating smoother implementation of Governor Tinubu’s policies with reduced opposition.

Speaking with
Sunday PUNCH
A previous national legislator, Senator Femi Okurounmu, noted that the increasing number of APC members in the National Assembly has significantly diminished the legislature’s capacity to oversee President Tinubu’s executive authority.

“The defections have not only bolstered the President’s clout; the legislative body has, to a large extent, incapacitated itself by relinquishing its authority to the President. As a result, the President now holds unchecked power to act as he pleases. Consequently, the legislature fails to serve its intended role as a counterbalance to executive authority,” he explained.

Okurounmu also pointed out that the diminished opposition has steered the nation towards a single-party regime and centralized governance, with the President having dominance over the three branches of government.

In response to inquiries about what may have prompted the significant number of defectors from the ranks of opposition legislators, the senator stated that politicians within the governing party benefited from greater advantages when it came to positions and availability of resources.

In a similar vein, Chief Peter Ameh, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, pointed out that the significant increase in membership within the APC has somewhat shifted the dynamics of power in the National Assembly.

He said, “With more lawmakers aligning with the ruling party, President Tinubu may find it easier to pass legislation and implement policies that align with his agenda, even if those policies are unpopular or undemocratic.

Secondly, these defections might further undermine the opposition parties, complicating their ability to form a cohesive stance during National Assembly discussions. As these parties experience additional losses in membership, they could find it increasingly challenging to retain their significance and power within the legislative body.

This might provide President Tinubu with a chance to strengthen his party’s control over the governing framework. Nonetheless, this doesn’t guarantee it will influence voter behavior in the 2027 general elections.

In his assessment, Professor Hassan Salisu, who leads the National Association of Political Scientists, pointed out that the shift of opposition legislators to the ruling party has provided Tinubu with increased influence in the National Assembly.

Nevertheless, he warned that the strong bond between the Tinubu administration and the 10th Assembly should not necessarily be seen as an automatic threat to the concept of checks and balances. He also noted that it is not beneficial for legislators to consistently engage in public conflicts with the executive branch.

Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).