A new wave of defections swept through Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday, as lawmakers switched party affiliations in what appears to be early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development came as plenary resumed following the Easter recess, with Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu reading multiple defection letters on the floor of the House. The announcements reflected increasing political realignments across party lines.
Addressing concerns that the trend could signal a drift toward a one-party system, Kalu dismissed such claims, arguing that the movement of lawmakers between both ruling and opposition parties demonstrates the vibrancy of Nigeria’s democracy.
Among the notable defections, Thaddeus Attah, who represents Eti-Osa Federal Constituency in Lagos State, left the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress. In his letter, Attah cited a prolonged leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which he said had hindered effective representation of his constituents.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recorded the highest number of defections, losing five members. Among them, Abubakar Abdul of Niger State defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Yakubu Noma from Kebbi State joined the ADC. Another Kebbi lawmaker, Ibrahim Mohammed, also moved to the APC.
In Osun State, two PDP lawmakers—Mudashiru Alani and Adetunji Olusoji—defected to the Accord Party.
The APC also suffered losses, as David Fuoh of Taraba State defected to the PDP, while Bashir Zubair from Kaduna State joined the ADC, underscoring the reciprocal nature of the political shifts.
Party defections are a recurring feature of Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as election cycles approach. With less than two years until the 2027 general elections, lawmakers are increasingly recalibrating their affiliations, influenced by internal party disputes, electoral strategy, and shifting regional dynamics.
The current trend is partly driven by unresolved leadership crises within key parties, notably the PDP and the Labour Party, as political groups intensify efforts to consolidate their positions ahead of party primaries.
Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023, the APC has retained a numerical majority in the House. However, opposition parties continue to seek relevance through strategic defections and coalition-building. The growing traction of smaller parties such as the ADC suggests a gradual broadening of Nigeria’s political space beyond the traditional dominance of the APC and PDP.
Analysts expect the pace of defections to increase in the coming months as political parties finalise internal structures and aspirants begin positioning ahead of primaries.
Meanwhile, the House adjourned plenary until Wednesday in honour of Hassan Danjuma, a lawmaker from Kano State, who passed away on April 10, 2026, at the age of 66.