- A fresh wave of political defections hit the House of Representatives as 11 lawmakers elected under opposition parties switched allegiance to APC and ADC during plenary
- Six members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) abandoned the party to join the APC
- The Labour Party also lost five members who defected to the ADC
- Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu linked the lawmakers’ decisions to persistent leadership disputes and internal conflicts within opposition parties
Political realignments within Nigeria’s House of Representatives continued on Thursday, March 12, as 11 opposition lawmakers defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The latest defections came barely 24 hours after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost four of its members in the lower legislative chamber to other political parties.
During plenary, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu formally announced the development, linking the growing wave of defections to unresolved internal disputes within opposition parties.
According to the announcement, six lawmakers who were elected on the platform of the PDP switched allegiance to the APC.
The lawmakers are Bitrus Kwamoti, Zakaria Nyampa, James Barka and Kobis Thinmu from Adamawa State, Mohammed Bargaja from Sokoto State, and Midala Balami from Borno State.
The Labour Party also experienced significant losses as five of its members moved to the ADC.
The defectors include Afam Ogene, Lilian Orogbu and Peter Aniekwe, all representing constituencies in Anambra State.
Two additional Labour Party lawmakers, Jessy Onuakalusi from Lagos State and Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State, also joined the ADC.
Meanwhile, Peter Uzokwe, who was elected under the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Anambra State, equally announced his move to the ADC.
Reacting to the development, Kalu welcomed those who joined the APC, describing the party as a broad and inclusive political platform.
He said, “Some of our colleagues want to move to the APC. We have their letters here, but we cannot officially announce their defections in their absence.”
The Deputy Speaker also noted that the APC’s increasing membership demonstrates public trust in the party’s leadership and policies.
The recent defections come amid wider political manoeuvring across the country as politicians prepare for the next electoral cycle.
In recent months, notable figures such as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, have reportedly been engaged in consultations aimed at building a new political coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.
The ADC is believed to be one of the political parties being considered as a possible platform for such an alliance.
The shifting political landscape has sparked renewed strategic calculations within the National Assembly, with many lawmakers reconsidering their political affiliations in anticipation of potential changes in power dynamics.
Political analysts argue that prolonged leadership crises within the PDP and ongoing factional tensions in the Labour Party have created fertile ground for defections.
For the APC, the influx of new lawmakers further consolidates its majority in the House of Representatives.
At the same time, the ADC appears to be positioning itself as an emerging alternative platform for politicians seeking a political home outside both the ruling party and the traditional opposition.
With reports suggesting that additional defections may follow, the composition of the House could undergo further changes in the weeks ahead as political actors reposition themselves ahead of the next national elections.