Defection Storm Rocks Reps: PDP, LP Lose Lawmakers to APC, ADC Gain Ground

By Christiana Ekpa

A fresh wave of defections swept through the House of Representatives on Thursday, dealing another blow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) as several lawmakers switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The development came barely 24 hours after the PDP lost four members in the Green Chamber, with six more lawmakers from the party formally defecting during plenary.

The Labour Party also suffered losses, as five of its members joined the ADC amid growing political realignments ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Announcing the defections, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, attributed the growing wave of cross-carpeting to lingering internal crises within opposition parties.

Lawmakers who dumped the PDP for the APC include Bitrus Kwamoti, Zakaria Nyampa, James Barka and Kobis Thinmu, all from Adamawa State, alongside Mohammed Bargaja from Sokoto State and Midala Balami from Borno State.

The Labour Party, on its part, lost Afam Ogene, Lilian Orogbu and Peter Aniekwe from Anambra State to the ADC. Two other LP lawmakers Jessy Onuakalusi from Lagos State and Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State also defected to the ADC.

In addition, Peter Uzokwe, an Anambra lawmaker elected on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, also joined the ADC.

Welcoming the defectors, Kalu described the APC as a broad political platform open to all Nigerians, noting that the party’s growing ranks reflect confidence in its leadership and programmes.

“Some of our colleagues want to move to the APC. We have their letters here but cannot officially announce their defections in their absence,” he said.

The latest defections are part of a wider wave of political realignments across the country, with major opposition figures exploring new alliances outside traditional party structures ahead of the 2027 general election.

In recent months, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, have both been linked to consultations aimed at building a coalition platform for the next election cycle. The ADC is widely speculated to be one of the parties under consideration as a possible vehicle for such an alliance.

Political analysts say the persistent leadership disputes within the PDP and factional struggles in the Labour Party have created a climate that encourages defections.

While the ruling APC continues to strengthen its numerical dominance in the House of Representatives, the ADC appears to be positioning itself as a rising platform for politicians seeking an alternative to both the ruling party and the traditional opposition.

With more defections reportedly on the horizon, the composition of the House may continue to shift in the coming weeks as political actors reposition ahead of the next major electoral contest.