A fresh wave of defections has hit Nigeria’s opposition parties as 11 lawmakers in the House of Representatives abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), joining the ruling 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 to rival parties, highlighting deepening cracks within the opposition.
Announcing the defections during plenary, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu attributed the mass movement of lawmakers to unresolved internal crises within the affected parties.
Lawmakers who left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress include Bitrus Kwamoti, Zakaria Nyampa, James Barka and Kobis Thinmu, all representing constituencies in Adamawa State. Others are Mohammed Bargaja from Sokoto State and Midala Balami from Borno State.
The Labour Party Nigeria also suffered significant losses as five of its members moved to the African Democratic Congress. They include Afam Ogene, Lilian Orogbu and Peter Aniekwe from Anambra State, alongside Jessy Onuakalusi from Lagos State and Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State.
In a related development, Peter Uzokwe, who was elected under the Young Progressives Party, also joined the ADC.
Welcoming the defectors, Kalu described the APC as an inclusive political platform open to Nigerians across party lines, noting that the party’s growing membership reflects confidence in its leadership and policies.
“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,” he said during the plenary.
The defections come amid intensified political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several opposition leaders reportedly exploring new alliances.
Notably, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, have been linked to ongoing consultations aimed at forming a coalition platform.
Political observers say the ADC is increasingly being considered as a possible vehicle for the emerging alliance.
Analysts note that prolonged leadership disputes within the PDP and factional tensions in the Labour Party have created an atmosphere that encourages defections, prompting lawmakers to reposition themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle.
While the APC continues to consolidate its numerical advantage in the House of Representatives, the ADC appears to be positioning itself as an alternative platform for politicians seeking a middle ground between the ruling party and the traditional opposition.
With more defections reportedly on the horizon, the balance of power in the National Assembly could shift further in the coming weeks as political actors recalibrate their alliances ahead of the next electoral contest.