Fresh political realignments swept through the House of Representatives on Wednesday as six lawmakers from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), deepening the wave of defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest exits came barely 24 hours after another round of defections was recorded at the resumption of plenary, further highlighting the growing instability within opposition parties and the scramble for stronger political platforms ahead of the polls.
At plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, four lawmakers from Kano State formally announced their resignation from the NNPP and their decision to join the ADC.
Leading the group, the member representing Minjibir/Ungogo Federal Constituency, Adamu Wakili, blamed persistent leadership crisis within the NNPP for his decision to leave the party.
Reading his letter on the floor of the House, Abbas quoted Wakili as saying the “persistent leadership crisis in the NNPP resulting in internal divisions” had made his continued stay in the party impossible.
“I find it imperative to align with a platform that guarantees inclusion and I hereby notify the House of my intention to join the African Democratic Congress,” the letter read.
Also defecting from the NNPP to the ADC were Umar Zakari, Umar Datti, and Abdulhakeem Ado, all from Kano State.
The trio also cited prolonged leadership crises at both the state and national levels of the party as the reason for their exit.
In a separate development, the lawmaker representing Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, Ahmadu Kabiru, resigned from the PDP and joined the APC, citing what he described as “irreconcilable differences” within the opposition party.
Kabiru said he was ready to support the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and align with the administration’s agenda.
He stated his intention to “align with the transformatory policies of the President as contained in the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Similarly, the member representing Ahiazu/Ezinihitte/Mbaise Federal Constituency of Imo State, Chinedu Martins, also confirmed his defection from the PDP to the APC.
Martins disclosed that he had already switched allegiance at the ward level as far back as March 2026, formalising the move at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
With the latest defections, the APC has further tightened its grip on the House of Representatives, now controlling 282 seats, while the PDP trails far behind with just 30 members—a sharp drop from its previous strength.
The ADC has also continued to grow as an emerging third force, now holding 24 seats and benefiting significantly from the internal crises rocking smaller opposition parties.
Other parties now account for fewer seats, with the Labour Party holding 10 seats, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) five, Accord Party four, while the Action Peoples Party (APP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) hold two seats each.
The NNPP, once projected as a rising political force, has now been reduced to just one seat in the Green Chamber.
