Twenty-four hours after losing four of its members in the House of Representatives to rival parties, the Peoples Democratic Party suffered further losses on Thursday, with six lawmakers defecting to the All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress.
The Labour Party also experienced defections, losing five members amid heightened political realignments 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 ongoing internal crises within the opposition parties.
Lawmakers who left the PDP for the APC include Bitrus Kwamoti, Zakaria Nyampa, James Barka, and Kobis Thinmu from Adamawa State; Mohammed Bargaja (Sokoto State) and Midala Balami (Borno State).
The Labour Party lost Afam Ogene, Lilian Orogbu, and Peter Aniekwe from Anambra State to the ADC, while two other LP lawmakers — Jessy Onuakalusi from Lagos State and Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State — also joined the ADC. Additionally, Peter Uzokwe, elected on the platform of the Young Progressives Party in Anambra, moved to the ADC.
Welcoming the defectors to the APC, Kalu described the ruling party as a broad platform open to all Nigerians, stressing that its growing membership reflects confidence in its leadership and programmes.
He noted, “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 recent defections occur amid broader political realignments nationwide, with key opposition figures exploring new alliances outside traditional party structures. Prominent politicians, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, have reportedly held consultations aimed at forming coalition platforms ahead of the 2027 general election.
The ADC is emerging as one of the parties considered a vehicle for such alliances, while these shifts have prompted renewed strategic calculations within the National Assembly.
Analysts say prolonged leadership disputes in the PDP and factional struggles within the Labour Party have created an environment encouraging defections.
For the ruling APC, the influx of lawmakers strengthens its numerical advantage in the House of Representatives, while the ADC positions itself as an alternative platform for politicians seeking options beyond both the APC and traditional opposition parties.
With more defections expected, the composition of the House may continue to shift in the coming weeks as political actors recalibrate ahead of the next elections.
