Fresh political realignments rocked the House of Representatives on Thursday as five lawmakers dumped the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party for the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among those who switched parties was Muhammed El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai. Representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Muhammed left the APC for the NDC, a move many observers see as further evidence of the growing rift between his father and the ruling party.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, officially announced the defections during Thursday’s plenary session.
Muhammed El-Rufai’s departure followed months of speculation surrounding his political future, especially after his father intensified criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The former governor, once regarded as a close ally of Tinubu and a major APC figure, has repeatedly accused the ruling party of abandoning internal democracy and marginalising loyal members.
Also joining the NDC was Joshua Obika, who represents the Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kuje/Kwali Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory. Obika moved from the APC to the NDC, marking his third party switch since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly. He was initially elected under the Labour Party in 2023 before defecting to the APC in March 2026.
Similarly, Abdulhakeem Kamilu, representing Wudil/Garko Federal Constituency in Kano State, left the ADC for the NDC, blaming unresolved leadership disputes within the party. Kamilu had originally entered the House on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party before moving to the ADC earlier this year.
In a related development, two Kaduna lawmakers, Suleiman Richifa and Umar Ajilo, also left the PDP for the ADC, citing the lingering internal crisis affecting the opposition party at both state and national levels.
The latest wave of defections came just days after reports that 17 lawmakers aligned with the NDC, highlighting growing efforts by opposition politicians to build a stronger coalition capable of challenging the APC in 2027.
The developments have further reshaped the political balance in the House and intensified speculation that more defections could follow as consultations ahead of the next election cycle continue.