The House of Representatives resumed plenary on Tuesday to a fresh wave of political realignments as no fewer than 13 lawmakers formally announced their defection from their respective parties.
The defections, which cut across several political parties and states, were formally communicated to the House through letters read on the floor by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen during proceedings.
The latest development signals another significant shift in the composition of the Green Chamber ahead of the next electoral cycle, with lawmakers citing internal crises, leadership disputes and unresolved factional battles within their former parties as reasons for their departure.
Among those who switched allegiance was Gaza Jonathan from Nasarawa State, who moved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Labour Party (LP).
In Cross River State, Alex Egbona defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Esosa Iyawe of Edo State left the APC for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Also from Katsina State, Sani Lawal dumped the APC for an undisclosed political party, while Shehu Dalhatu joined the PDP from the ruling APC.
The Peoples Democratic Party suffered its biggest loss in Oyo State, where six members of the House announced their exit from the party.
The lawmakers—Adebayo Adepoju, Adedeji Olajide, Ojo Akinola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Oyekunle Folajimi and Abass Adigun—defected from the PDP to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
In Delta State, Etanabene Benedict left the Labour Party for the PDP, while Auwalu Gwalabe of Bauchi State moved from the PDP to the APM.
In their separate letters, the lawmakers attributed their decisions to lingering internal crises and leadership disagreements within their former parties.
They argued that persistent factional divisions had created an unstable political environment that undermined their ability to effectively serve and represent their constituents.
The latest defections add to the growing trend of political migration within the National Assembly, a development that continues to reshape party strengths and alliances in the House of Representatives.
Political observers say the movement of lawmakers across party lines could have far-reaching implications for legislative politics and coalition building as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of future elections.
With the House now back from its four-week recess, attention is expected to focus not only on legislative business but also on the evolving political calculations unfolding within the National Assembly.
