APC snatches Senate majority, ends PDP’s 16-year rule

After 16 years of majority power in Nigeria’s two houses of parliament, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has finally lost the Senate to the now ruling party-elect, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The APC secured 60 seats out of 109,  based on results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The spread gives the APC the majority power with at least 60 seats, the first time the PDP has been edged out of federal legislative leadership since the end of military rule in 1999.

The closest the PDP came to losing its majority lead, was after a series of defections to the APC in the House of Representatives, between 2014 and 2015.

Results of Saturday’s elections also show that the APC has won the majority in the House, this time, not through defections.

With the APC’s win, the biggest political casualty in the Senate would be David Mark, who has spent eight years as president of the Senate.

After the National Assembly’s inauguration in June, Mr. Mark’s best bet will be the Minority Leader post.

The APC, on the other hand, will produce the President of the Senate, Deputy President, Majority Leader and Chief Whip.

Notwithstanding its lead, the APC currently lacks a two-third majority (73), needed for key decisions. The party will count on the PDP as it stands.