Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing Enugu East Senatorial District, has officially defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

His defection was announced on Tuesday during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a development that drew applause from several APC lawmakers.

Explaining his decision, Senator Chukwu cited the collapse of internal democracy and the “tattered state” of the Labour Party as reasons for his exit.

 “I am leaving the Labour Party because internal democracy has completely collapsed, and the party is in disarray,” he said in his letter to the Senate leadership.

Chukwu, who was elected on the LP platform in 2023, lamented that the party had failed to uphold the ideals and discipline that once attracted reform-minded politicians like himself.

In his reaction, Senate President Akpabio welcomed the Enugu senator to the APC, describing the move as a “welcome development.”

“I congratulate Senator Kelvin Chukwu for joining the APC. Let me assure you that Nigeria will not be a one-party state because INEC will continue to register more parties,” Akpabio said.

He further urged lawmakers across party lines to work together in the interest of national development.

With Chukwu’s defection, the composition of the 10th Senate now stands as follows:

APC: 73 senators

PDP: 28 senators

Labour Party: 4 senators

NNPP: 1 senator

SDP: 1 senator

APGA: 2 senators

This brings the total number of senators to 109, further consolidating the APC’s majority in the upper chamber.