While ADC is fast emerging as a major opposition party in the House of Representatives, APC lost its first two members to the opposition as defections continue to rock the green chambers
Twenty-eight members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives announced their defection to various political parties on Tuesday, triggering a notable shift in the balance of power within the Green Chamber.
Following the wave of defections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is emerging as the opposition party with the second-highest number of minority lawmakers. Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) experienced mixed fortunes—losing two members to opposition parties for the first time, but gaining 14 new lawmakers overall.
In a significant development, the Action Peoples Party (APP) secured representation in the House for the first time with two members, while the Accord Party also gained two lawmakers.
Defections to APC
Among those who joined the APC are Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Aliyu Madaki, alongside Reps Ghali Tijjani Mustapha, Shehu Bello, Dankawu Idris, Hussain Hassan Shehu, Rabiu Yusuf, Garba Mohammed Chiroma, Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe, and Ibrahim Mohammed—all of whom defected from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State.
Others include Rep. Jaafaru Yakubu and Sadiq Abbas Tafida (Taraba), Ibrahim Mohammed (Kebbi), Bello Shinkafi (Zamfara), and Mohammed Bassi (Adamawa), who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
Defections to ADC and others
Deputy Minority Whip Rep. George Ozodinobi, Harris Okonkwo (both Anambra), and Seyi Sowunmi (Lagos) moved from the Labour Party (LP) to the ADC.
Similarly, Yaya Tongo (Gombe), Mani Maishinko Katami, Abdussamad Dasuki (both Sokoto), and Umar Yusuf Yabo defected from the PDP to the ADC.
From Osun State, Reps Akanni Clement Ademola and Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye left the PDP for the Accord Party.
In other movements, House Deputy Spokesperson Rep. Philip Agbese (Benue) defected from the APC to the LP, while Rep. Mustapha Abdullahi (Kaduna) moved from the APC to the ADC. Rep. Alexander Mascot (Abia) switched from APGA to the LP. Meanwhile, Reps Ikenga Ugochinyere and Nwogu Mathew (Imo) left the PDP for the APP.
The defections were formally announced through letters read on the floor by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, with lawmakers citing internal crises within their former parties as the primary reason for their decisions.
The development, particularly the movement of opposition lawmakers to the ruling party, drew the presence of notable political figures, including Abba Yusuf, Barau Jibrin, and Umaru Ganduje, among others.
