Key Points

• APC expands Senate strength from 59 seats in 2023 to 78 by December 2025.

• Defections, court rulings and a vacant seat weaken opposition parties across chambers.

• The ruling party now controls the two-thirds majority required for major national decisions.

When the 10th National Assembly took shape on June 12, 2023, the ruling All Progressives Congress did not hold decisive control of the Senate.

Its numbers fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to shape outcomes on sensitive national issues.

At the time, the Senate reflected a near balance of power. The APC held 59 seats, while opposition parties collectively controlled 50.

On constitutional amendments, veto overrides and impeachment proceedings, the ruling party had little choice but to negotiate.

That balance has now disappeared.

Senate Numbers Shift Dramatically

As of Dec. 20, 2025, the APC controls 78 Senate seats. The opposition has shrunk to a fraction of its former strength. The Peoples Democratic Party holds 24 seats. APGA has two. The Labour Party, NNPP, SDP and ADC each have one. One seat remains vacant following the death of a senator.

The changes mark a sharp realignment of power within just two and a half years of the assembly’s inauguration.

How the 10th Senate Began

At inception in June 2023, the Senate included lawmakers from seven parties.

The breakdown stood as follows:
APC 59
PDP 36
LP 8
NNPP 2
SDP 2
YPP 1

With this configuration, the APC lacked the numbers to dominate legislative outcomes on its own.

Court Rulings Alter Early Balance

Judicial decisions triggered the first shifts.

In October 2023, the Court of Appeal nullified the election of Senator Abubakar Ohere of APC in Kogi Central. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP was sworn in on Nov. 2, 2023.

Weeks later, Senator Darlington Nwokocha of the Labour Party lost his seat in Abia Central. Austin Akobundu of the PDP took over on Nov. 15, 2023.

These rulings raised the PDP’s strength to 38, while APC and LP recorded marginal losses.

Defections Erode Opposition Strength

Political defections soon followed.

In October 2023, the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah defected from the Young Progressives Party to the APC. His move erased YPP’s only Senate seat.

The most significant realignments occurred in 2025.

On Oct. 16, 2025, Senators Benson Konbowei of Bayelsa Central and Benson Agadaga of Bayelsa East left the PDP for the APC. The ruling party’s tally rose to 76.

On Nov. 11, 2025, Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe of Cross River North also defected from the PDP, pushing APC strength to 77.

Death, Vacancies and Further Changes

The Senate lost Senator Okey Ezea of Enugu North on Nov. 18, 2025. Ezea, elected on the Labour Party platform in 2023, died in Lagos at age 62. His death reduced LP representation and brought Senate membership to 108.

In early December 2025, Senator Sunday Katung of Kaduna North defected from the PDP to the APC.

Around the same period, Senator Ireti Kingibe left the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.

Current Senate Configuration

The Senate now stands as follows:
APC 78
PDP 24
APGA 2
LP 1
NNPP 1
SDP 1
ADC 1

With 108 serving senators, the APC comfortably exceeds the two-thirds threshold.

What a Two-Thirds Majority Means

Under the Senate Standing Orders 2022, voting may take place through voice vote, register signing or electronic voting.

In a full Senate of 109 seats, two-thirds equals 73 senators. Even with one vacancy, the APC’s 78 seats place it well above that mark.

A two-thirds majority is required for constitutional amendments, overriding presidential vetoes, approving states of emergency, creating new states and removing a president or vice president from office.

The issue drew attention in 2025 when President Bola Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers State, prompting debate over the use of a voice vote rather than a recorded count.

APC Grip Extends to House of Representatives

The APC has also tightened its hold on the House of Representatives.

From a simple majority in 2023, the party now commands a two-thirds majority.

The current breakdown stands at:
APC 240
PDP 74
LP 25
NNPP 15
SDP 3
YPP 1

This gives the ruling party decisive influence across both chambers of the National Assembly.

Simple Majority Still Governs Daily Business

Despite the weight of a supermajority, much of the Senate’s routine work still relies on simple majority votes.

These include passage of ordinary bills, confirmation of appointments, adoption of committee reports, election of presiding officers and procedural motions.

However, any bill vetoed by the president requires a two-thirds vote to become law.

Committee of the Whole and Legislative Power

One key stage of lawmaking remains the Committee of the Whole. Here, the entire Senate reviews bills clause by clause, introduces amendments and considers conference committee reports.

During this process, the Senate president steps aside from the main chair, allowing for a less formal and more detailed debate. Decisions taken at this stage return to plenary for final approval.

Power, Oversight and Democratic Balance

With the APC firmly in control of more than two-thirds of the Senate, concerns continue to grow.

Critics question whether minority parties can still provide effective oversight. Others warn of creeping one-party dominance in national decision-making.

The ruling party now holds enormous legislative leverage. How it deploys that power rests largely with the Senate leadership under Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

For many Nigerians, the expectation remains clear. Strength in numbers should serve governance, not weaken democratic pluralism.