**Edo Senator’s Switch Bolsters APC’s South-South Ambitions
On Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio led an enthusiastic welcome for the Edo South Senator, declaring before a packed chamber, “Distinguished Senator Neda Imasuen, you shall no longer Labour in vain.” It was more than just a pun — it was a sharp political signal aimed squarely at the cracking foundation of the LP.
Senator Imasuen’s defection from the Labour Party to the APC has signaled a deeper political shift in the volatile South-South region.
Imasuen’s defection letter, read during plenary, cited the LP’s protracted leadership crisis and his constituents’ desire for “national political relevance” as key drivers of his exit. But beyond the text, the subtext was clear: the APC is reeling in opposition figures, one by one, ahead of 2027.
“This move aligns with our people’s aspirations and the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the lawmaker said, pledging to use his legislative influence to bring dividends of democracy to Edo South.
The Senate chamber responded with applause, backslaps, and strategic smiles, as the APC tightened its grip on yet another voice in the upper chamber.
With Imasuen’s exit, the LP loses one of its few remaining voices in the Red Chamber, raising questions about its viability as a national platform rather than a protest movement.
Senate President Akpabio, himself a former South-South governor and power broker, took visible pride in receiving the defector — seeing in Imasuen’s move a validation of APC’s growing inroads into a region long dominated by the opposition.
“You may now graciously approach the chair for a handshake,” Akpabio quipped after the announcement, drawing laughter — and subtle nods from strategists watching the regional math shift.
While Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele offered formal congratulations, the broader message was unmistakable: the APC is not just consolidating power — it is hollowing out the opposition from within
Imasuen’s departure is not just numerical — it’s symbolic. He chaired one of the Senate’s most sensitive committees and had previously been seen as a bridge between LP’s activist past and its legislative ambitions. His exit reinforces the narrative of an LP unraveling under internal factionalism and uncertain leadership.
Political observers note that if more defections follow, the LP risks returning to pre-2023 irrelevance — with its presidential momentum undone by structural weaknesses and elite defections.
Coming months before the Edo 2024 governorship election and ahead of the 2027 general elections, the move has already triggered recalculations in the state’s political power dynamics.
With Imasuen now flying APC’s flag, the ruling party gains a valuable insider, capable of shifting local narratives and countering LP’s grassroots enthusiasm — especially in urban areas of Edo South where youth sentiment had once rallied behind the opposition.
The strategic timing, symbolic messaging, and coordinated reception make it clear: this was not just a defection — it was a political playbook in action.
