The political landscape within the National Assembly underwent a seismic shift on Thursday as a total of 21 federal lawmakers formally resigned from their respective political parties to seek new affiliations. The mass defection, described by observers as a significant realignment of political forces, saw a surge in the membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the upper legislative chamber, nine senators announced their exit from various parties to join the ADC. Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, 12 members moved to different parties, citing diverse reasons for their departures.
The formal notifications were contained in letters addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, both of whom read the missives during their respective plenary sessions on Thursday.
Senate: A Strategic Influx for the ADC
The Senate witnessed a concentrated movement as nine prominent lawmakers crossed the carpet to the African Democratic Congress. The defectors include high-ranking legislators such as Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State) and Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia State). Others who joined the ADC fold are:
- Binos Yaroe (Adamawa State)
- Victor Umeh (Anambra State)
- Tony Nwonye (Anambra State)
- Lawal Usman (Kaduna State)
- Ogoshi Onawo (Nasarawa State)
- Augustine Akobundu (Abia State)
- Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory)
House of Representatives: APC and ADC Gain Ground
The lower chamber experienced a broader fragmentation of party lines. Six members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) transitioned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), significantly bolstering the ruling party’s majority. Those who moved to the APC are:
- James Barka, Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, Zakaria Nyampa, and Kobis Thimnu (all from Adamawa State)
- Midala Balami (Borno State)
- Mohammed Bargaja (Sokoto State)
Concurrently, the ADC continued its expansion in the House, attracting five members from the Labour Party (LP) and the PDP, alongside one member from the Young Progressives Party (YPP). The new ADC members in the House include:
- Afam Victor Ogene, Peter Aniekwe, and Lilian Orogbu (Anambra State)
- Jessey Onakalusi (Lagos State)
- Murphy Osaro Omoruyi (Edo State)
Political Implications
Analysts suggest that this “hail of defections” reflects the intensifying maneuvers ahead of the 2026 general elections. The sudden rise of the ADC as a third-force contender in the National Assembly may complicate the traditional two-party dominance, potentially altering committee leaderships and legislative priorities in the coming months.
While the defecting lawmakers cited various reasons—ranging from internal party crises to the need for broader political platforms—the leadership of the abandoned parties has expressed disappointment, with some threatening legal action to reclaim the seats.
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