Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, the Nigerian Senate, has adjourned plenary until March 31, 2026, to observe the Eid al‑Fitr break.
The decision was announced during Thursday’s sitting presided over by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Before adjourning, the lawmakers agreed that the passage of the 2026 national budget would be concluded immediately after they resume from the recess on March 31.
Meanwhile, nine senators used Thursday’s plenary session to formally announce their defection from their respective political parties to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A breakdown of the defections shows that five lawmakers left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), three defected from the Labour Party (LP), while one resigned from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The senators who left the PDP include Dauda Yaroe, Lawal Usman, Ogochi Onawe, Aminu Tambuwal and Austin Akobundu.
Those who defected from the Labour Party are Ireti Kingibe, Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye.
Eight of the lawmakers who left the PDP and LP attributed their defections to persistent leadership crises within their parties.
However, Eyinnaya Abaribe, who announced his exit from APGA, said his decision followed his expulsion from the party in September 2025.
The Senate, however, asked Abaribe to reconsider his defection within one week, noting that his explanation that he left because he was sacked by the party does not fall within the constitutional provisions guiding defections by lawmakers.
