11 opposition Reps defect to APC, ADC

Twenty-four hours after losing four of its members in the House of Representatives to rival parties, the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday suffered fresh losses in the Green Chamber, with six lawmakers defecting to the All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress.

The Labour Party was also hit by the gale of defections, losing five members as political realignments intensified ahead of the next electoral cycle.

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

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

The Labour Party lost Afam Ogene, Lilian Orogbu and Peter Aniekwe from Anambra State to the African Democratic Congress. 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, joined the ADC.

Welcoming the defectors to the APC, Kalu described the ruling party as a broad platform open to all Nigerians, insisting that its growing membership reflects confidence in its leadership and programmes.

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 latest defections come amid a broader wave of political realignments across the country, with major opposition figures exploring new alliances outside the traditional party structures.

In recent months, prominent politicians, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, have been linked to consultations aimed at forging a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

The African Democratic Congress has emerged as one of the parties reportedly being considered as a possible vehicle for such an alliance.

The moves have triggered renewed political calculations within the National Assembly, with lawmakers repositioning themselves in anticipation of possible shifts in the balance of power.

Analysts say the growing uncertainty within the opposition parties — particularly the prolonged leadership disputes in the PDP and factional struggles within the Labour Party — has created an environment that encourages defections.

For the ruling APC, the inflow of lawmakers further strengthens its numerical dominance in the House of Representatives, while the ADC appears to be positioning itself as an emerging platform for politicians seeking an alternative to both the APC and the traditional opposition parties.

With more defections reportedly imminent, the composition of the House may continue to shift in the coming weeks as political actors recalibrate their alliances ahead of the next electoral contest.