The wave of defections rocking the House of Representatives ahead of the 2027 general election intensified on Wednesday, with six lawmakers dumping the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Peoples Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress.
The latest moves came barely 24 hours after a similar realignment was recorded at the resumption of plenary, underscoring growing political uncertainty and shifting loyalties within the lower chamber.
At the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, four members of the NNPP from Kano State formally announced their exit from the party and their decision to join the ADC.
Leading the group, the member representing Minjibir/Ungogo Federal Constituency, Adamu Wakili, cited internal wrangling within the NNPP as the primary reason for his defection.
Reading his letter, Abbas quoted Wakili as saying, “persistent leadership crisis in the NNPP resulting in internal divisions,” had made his continued stay untenable.
“I find it imperative to align with a platform that guarantees inclusion and I hereby notify the House of my intention to join the African Democratic Congress,” the letter read in part.
Also defecting from the NNPP to the ADC were Umar Zakari, Umar Datti, and Abdulhakeem Ado, all from Kano State. The trio attributed their decision to what they described as protracted leadership crises at both the state and national levels of the party.
In a separate development, a member from Zamfara State, Ahmadu Kabiru, representing Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency, resigned from the PDP, citing “irreconciliable differences.” He subsequently declared for the APC, aligning himself with the policies of the current administration.
Kabiru stated his readiness to “align with the transformatory policies of the President as contained in the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Similarly, the lawmaker representing Ahiazu/Ezinihitte/Mbaise Federal Constituency of Imo State, Chinedu Martins, confirmed his defection from the PDP to the APC. He disclosed that he had effectively switched allegiance at the ward level as far back as March 2026.
With the latest defections, the APC has further consolidated its dominance in the House, now controlling 282 seats. The PDP trails distantly with 30 members, reflecting a sharp decline from its previous strength.
The ADC has emerged as a growing third force with 24 seats, benefiting significantly from the crisis within smaller opposition parties. Other parties account for fewer numbers: the Labour Party holds 10 seats, the All Progressives Grand Alliance has five, Accord Party has four, while the Action Peoples Party and Social Democratic Party have two seats each.
The NNPP, once seen as a rising platform, is now left with just a single seat in the chamber.
The current wave of defections is widely seen as part of broader political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections. Historically, Nigeria’s political landscape tends to witness increased cross-carpeting as elections approach, with lawmakers seeking platforms that improve their chances of re-election or political advancement.