Mass Defection Hits ADC as 17 House Members Join Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC)
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) faced a significant legislative setback on Tuesday as 17 members of the House of Representatives formally defected to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
The mass exit was officially announced during the plenary session by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu. Reading the communication from the lawmakers, Kalu noted that the defectors cited "unresolved internal crises" and structural disagreements within the ADC as the primary motivations for their departure.
The Defecting Lawmakers
The group of legislators who transitioned to the NDC includes:
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Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, and Adamu Wakili
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Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, and Lilian Orogbu
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Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, and Mukhtar Zakari
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George Oluwande, Munachim Umezuruike, and Emeka Idu
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Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, and Afam Ogene
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Murphy Omroruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado
A Broadening Political Realignment
This development is the latest in a series of high-profile shifts within Nigeria’s political landscape. The NDC has recently emerged as a focal point for realignment, recently attracting major figures such as former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Insiders suggest these movements are part of a strategic effort to consolidate a stable political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, moving away from the internal friction that has recently plagued several opposition parties.
Statements from Leadership
In a statement regarding his transition, Peter Obi emphasized that his move followed "deep reflection" on the current state of the nation. He clarified that his exit from his previous platform was not born of personal ambition but of a necessity to contribute more effectively to national development without the burden of internal distractions.
Both Obi and Kwankwaso have reportedly called on their supporters to prioritize national progress over partisan litigation, urging unity within the newly formed political arrangement to provide the "focused leadership" they believe the country currently requires.
The ADC has yet to release an official response regarding the departure of nearly its entire House caucus, though stakeholders have previously described the ongoing internal tensions as a significant threat to party cohesion.