12 Reps dump parties for APC, ADC in fresh defections

A new round of defections shook the House of Representatives on Thursday as 12 lawmakers formally announced their exit from their parties during plenary, with several joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The lawmakers, who previously belonged to opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), cited internal disagreements and persistent crises in their former parties as reasons for their decisions.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read the letters of defection on the floor of the House during plenary.

Among those who joined the APC were four lawmakers from Adamawa State – James Barka, Laori Bitrus, Zakaria Nyampa and Kobis Thimnu – who all defected from the PDP.

Also moving from the PDP to the ruling party were Midala Balami, representing Borno State, and Mohammed Bargaja from Sokoto State.

On the other hand, the ADC gained several new members from different parties. These include Afam Ogene (LP–Anambra), Peter Aniekwe (YPP–Anambra), and Lilian Orogbu (LP–Anambra).

Similarly, Jesse Onakalusi (LP–Lagos) and Murphy Osaro (LP–Edo) also left the Labour Party to pitch their tents with the ADC.

During the session, Kalu also informed lawmakers that eight other members had submitted notices indicating their intention to defect from their respective parties.

He listed them as Hassan Hussein, Tijani Khali, and Muhammed Shehu, all from Kano State under the NNPP, as well as Uchenna Okonkwo of the Labour Party from Anambra State. Their letters, he said, would be formally read once they are present during plenary.

The development comes barely a day after a similar round of defections during Wednesday’s sitting. On that occasion, Garba Inuwa and Abdullahi El-Rasheed, both from Gombe State, alongside Mohammed Audu (PDP–Taraba), switched to the APC.

Also, Joshua Obika (LP–FCT) defected to the APC, while Adewale Adebayo (PDP–Osun) moved to the Accord Party.

The growing wave of defections reflects ongoing political realignments within the National Assembly as lawmakers reposition ahead of future political contests and amid persistent internal crises within several opposition parties.

Business Hallmark had reported that nine senators from various political parties on Thursday defected to the ADC,.