A fresh wave of defections has hit the National Assembly, with 12 members of the House of Representatives and three senators announcing their exit from their respective political parties.
The defections were announced during plenary sessions in both chambers, with lawmakers citing internal crises and irreconcilable differences within their former parties.
Nine Senators Defect to ADC in Major Political Shake-Up
Nine Nigerian senators have officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a significant political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The senators include Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa), Victor Umeh (Anambra), Tony Nwonye (Anambra), Lawal Usman (Kaduna), Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa), Augustine Akobundu (Abia), and Ireti Kingibe (FCT).
Their defection letters were read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Thursday.
Reports indicate that the lawmakers left various parties due to internal crises and the need to strengthen an emerging political coalition ahead of the next election cycle. Several of the defecting senators also raised concerns about the country drifting toward a one-party political system.
The move is widely seen as a boost for the ADC, which has recently attracted prominent opposition figures and is positioning itself as a major platform for political realignment before 2027.
In the House of Representatives, the defecting lawmakers moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over plenary, read separate letters from the lawmakers announcing their defections.
Among those who moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC are Reps. James Barka, Laori Bitrus, Zakaria Nyampa and Kobis Thimnu, all representing constituencies in Adamawa State.
Also joining the ruling party are Rep. Midala Balami (PDP–Borno) and Rep. Mohammed Bargaja (PDP–Sokoto).
Meanwhile, three Anambra lawmakers — Reps. Afam Ogene (LP), Peter Aniekwe (YPP) and Lilian Orogbu (LP) — defected to the ADC.
Two other lawmakers, Reps. Jessey Onakalusi (LP–Lagos) and Murphy Osaro (LP–Edo), also left the Labour Party to join the ADC.
Kalu further announced that eight other lawmakers had formally notified the House leadership of their intention to defect. They include Hassan Hussein, Tijani Khali and Muhammed Shehu, all of the NNPP from Kano State, as well as Uchenna Okonkwo (LP–Anambra). Their letters, he said, would be read when they are physically present in plenary.
The latest defections followed similar moves on Wednesday when Reps. Garba Inuwa and Abdullahi El-Rasheed, both from Gombe State, as well as Rep. Mohammed Audu (PDP–Taraba), defected to the APC. Rep. Joshua Obika (LP–FCT) also joined the ruling party, while Rep. Adewale Adebayo (PDP–Osun) defected to the Accord Party.
In the Senate, three lawmakers also crossed over from the PDP to the APC. Their defection letters were read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The senators are Amos Yohanna (Adamawa North), Aminu Iya Abbas (Adamawa Central) and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis (Zamfara Central).
The lawmakers said persistent internal crises within the PDP in their respective states informed their decision to join the ruling party.
With the latest development, the APC has further strengthened its majority in the Senate, while the opposition PDP’s numbers in the chamber continue to shrink.
The spate of defections in both chambers has once again highlighted the fluid nature of Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of future electoral contests.
