By Christiana Ekpa
A wave of defections swept through the House of Representatives on Tuesday, with the All Progressives Congress and African Democratic Congress gaining fresh momentum as lawmakers reposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest realignments came as plenary resumed after the Easter break, with Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu reading out several defection letters on the floor of the House.
Kalu dismissed concerns that the trend signals a drift toward a one-party system, insisting that the movement of lawmakers across party lines reflects the vibrancy of democracy.
“No party is being stifled. Lawmakers are moving from majority to minority parties and vice versa. That is the beauty of democracy,” he said.
In one of the notable defections, Thaddeus Attah, who represents Eti-Osa Federal Constituency of Lagos State, dumped the Labour Party for the ADC. He attributed his decision to the protracted leadership crisis within the party, which he said had affected effective representation of his constituents.
The Peoples Democratic Party recorded the highest losses in the latest round of defections, with five of its members switching allegiance. Abubakar Abdul from Niger State defected to the APC, while Yakubu Noma (Kebbi) joined the ADC. Ibrahim Mohammed, also from Kebbi State, moved to the APC.
In Osun State, two PDP lawmakers—Mudashiru Alani (Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa) and Adetunji Olusoji (Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe)—defected to the Accord Party.
Despite its gains, the APC also lost members, as David Fuoh (Taraba) defected to the PDP, while Bashir Zubair (Kaduna) joined the ADC, further highlighting the fluidity of party affiliations in the legislature.
Defections have long been a feature of Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as election cycles approach. With less than two years to the next general elections, lawmakers are increasingly recalibrating their political alignments, driven by internal party disputes, electoral prospects, and shifting regional dynamics.
Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023, the APC has maintained a numerical advantage in the House. However, opposition parties have continued to jostle for relevance through strategic defections and alliance-building.
The growing appeal of the ADC in the current wave of defections suggests an emerging diversification of the political space beyond the traditional dominance of the APC and PDP.
Observers say the trend is likely to intensify in the coming months as parties consolidate their internal structures and aspirants begin positioning for party primaries.
Meanwhile, the House adjourned plenary to Wednesday in honour of Kano lawmaker Hassan Danjuma, who died on April 10, 2026, at the age of 66.
