By Obinna Uballa
Just as was the case in the Senate, a fresh wave of defections on Thursday swept through the House of Representatives as 12 lawmakers formally announced their exit from their parties during plenary, with several joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The defecting legislators moved from opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Their letters of defection were read during plenary by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session.
In the letters, the lawmakers cited unresolved internal crises and irreconcilable differences within their former parties as the reasons for their decisions.
Four lawmakers from Adamawa State – James Barka, Laori Bitrus, Zakaria Nyampa and Kobis Thimnu – all defected from the PDP to the APC.
Also joining the ruling party were Midala Balami (PDP–Borno) and Mohammed Bargaja (PDP–Sokoto).
Meanwhile, several lawmakers opted for the ADC. These include Afam Ogene (LP–Anambra), Peter Aniekwe (YPP–Anambra), and Lilian Orogbu (LP–Anambra).
Two other legislators — Jesse Onakalusi (LP–Lagos) and Murphy Osaro (LP–Edo) – also dumped the Labour Party for the ADC.
Kalu further disclosed that eight additional lawmakers had formally notified the House leadership of their intention to defect.
According to him, the lawmakers include Hassan Hussein, Tijani Khali, Muhammed Shehu, all from Kano under the NNPP, as well as Uchenna Okonkwo (LP–Anambra). Their letters, he said, would be read once they are physically present during plenary.
The latest development follows similar defections earlier in the week. During Wednesday’s plenary, Garba Inuwa and Abdullahi El-Rasheed, both from Gombe State, along with Mohammed Audu (PDP–Taraba), defected to the APC.
Similarly, Joshua Obika (LP–FCT) also joined the ruling party, while Adewale Adebayo (PDP–Osun) moved to the Accord Party.
The string of defections highlights the continuing political realignments within the 10th House of Representatives, as lawmakers reposition themselves amid internal disputes within several opposition parties and ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, The New Diplomat had reported that at least nine senators from various political parties on Thursday officially announced their defection to the ADC, a move that further alters the political balance in the Senate.
The lawmakers who declared for the party include Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Binos Yaroe (Adamawa South), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Lawal Usman (Kaduna Central), Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa South), Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), and Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory).
Their letters of defection were read during Thursday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
