By The political landscape of Nigeria’s National Assembly underwent a significant shift yesterday in Abuja as a fresh wave of defections bolstered the ranks of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This latest reshuffle has further consolidated the APC’s dominance while positioning the ADC as an emerging force within the legislative chambers.
The ruling APC successfully strengthened its supermajority in the House of Representatives, raising its membership to 261. This surge followed the formal exit of six lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during Thursday’s plenary. The defectors, predominantly from the Northeast and Northwest, include James Barka, Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, Zakaria Nyampa, and Kobis Thimnu from Adamawa State, alongside Midala Balami of Borno and Mohammed Bargaja of Sokoto. With these additions, the APC now controls 87 seats in the Senate and 261 in the House, significantly widening the gap between the ruling party and a shrinking opposition bloc.
Simultaneously, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) recorded strategic gains of its own. Six lawmakers from various opposition platforms announced their move to the party, bringing the ADC’s total legislative strength to nine Senators and six Representatives. Notable new members in the House include Afam Victor Ogene, Lilian Orogbu, and Peter Anekwe from Anambra, Jessey Onakalusi from Lagos, and Murphy Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State, most of whom transitioned from the Labour Party and the Young Progressives Party.
Presiding over the plenary, Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Kalu read formal letters from the defectors, who cited persistent internal crises and irreconcilable differences within their former parties as the primary motivations for their departure. Kalu further hinted that the wave of realignments is far from over, noting that several other lawmakers have submitted letters of intent to defect. However, he clarified that these would only be officially read when the concerned members are physically present in the chambers.
The legalities of these shifts have not gone unnoticed. In an exclusive interview, Senate Spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu addressed the constitutional scrutiny applied to such moves, specifically regarding the high-profile defection of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe from APGA to the ADC. Adaramodu emphasized that the Senate uses the Constitution and legislative rule books to validate every transition. He observed that lawmakers are increasingly gravitating toward platforms they believe can facilitate national development at a “jet speed” as the 2027 general elections begin to loom on the horizon.
This current trend follows a similar flurry of activity on Wednesday, where four opposition lawmakers joined the APC and one PDP member moved to the Accord Party. Political analysts view this ongoing “defection season” as a calculated realignment of forces as the nation’s political actors position themselves for the next electoral cycle.
