Twelve members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria have announced their defection from their political parties, a development that signals growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Of the 12 lawmakers, six defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, while five lawmakers moved from the Labour Party and PDP to the African Democratic Congress. Another lawmaker left the Young Progressives Party to join the ADC.
The lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC include James Barka, Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, Zakaria Nyampa and Kobis Thimnu from Adamawa State, as well as Midala Balami from Borno State and Mohammed Bargaja from Sokoto State.
Those who defected to the ADC include Afam Victor Ogene, Peter Aniekwe and Lilian Orogbu from Anambra State, alongside Jessey Onakalusi from Lagos State and Murphy Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State. The defections were announced during plenary by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session.
Kalu also disclosed that five other lawmakers had written to the leadership of the House indicating their intention to leave their current political parties, although their letters and intended destination parties were not disclosed because the lawmakers were absent during the session.
He explained that the reasons cited in the letters were similar to those previously given by lawmakers who had defected and added that the House would only read the letters officially when the lawmakers involved are present on the floor.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, several other lawmakers had also switched parties. Garba Inuwa and Abdullahi El-Rasheed from Gombe State, alongside Mohammed Audu from Taraba State and Joshua Obika representing the Federal Capital Territory, defected to the APC.
In addition, Adewale Adebayo from Osun State left the PDP to join the Accord Party. The wave of defections has intensified concerns about internal party instability as Nigeria approaches the next election cycle.
