PDP loses five reps, APC two as fresh defections rocks house

A new wave of defections hit the house of representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers shifted allegiance across party lines, in what is widely seen as early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development was announced during plenary resumption after the Easter break, when Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker read out a series of defection letters on the floor of the House.

Kalu, however, dismissed concerns that the trend signals a drift towards a one-party system, insisting it reflects democratic freedom within the legislature.

“This is to show the country that no party is stiffled. People are leaving the majority party to the minority parties and the minority parties to the majority party. This is the beauty of democracy,” he said.

One of the notable defections came from Lagos State, where Thaddeus Attah, representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, left the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In his letter, Attah cited internal party challenges, saying “the protracted crisis in the leadership of the LP” had affected his ability to effectively represent his constituents.

The PDP suffered the heaviest blow in the latest political reshuffle, losing five members in total.

Among them, Abubakar Abdul from Niger State defected to the APC, while Yakubu Noma of Kebbi State moved to the ADC, and Ibrahim Mohammed, also from Kebbi, joined the APC.

In Osun State, two PDP lawmakers—Mudashiru Alani (Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa) and Adetunji Olusoji (Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe)—defected to the Accord Party.

The APC also recorded losses in the same session.

David Fuoh from Taraba State moved to the PDP, while Bashir Zubair of Kaduna State joined the ADC, underscoring the back-and-forth nature of the political shifts.

The defections come amid intensifying political positioning ahead of the 2027 elections, with lawmakers increasingly recalibrating alliances in response to internal party disputes and electoral calculations.

Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023, the APC has maintained numerical superiority in the House, but opposition parties continue to gain and lose members in a fluid political environment.

Analysts say the latest movements reflect deepening internal cracks within major parties, particularly the PDP and Labour Party, as politicians position themselves for upcoming primaries and elections.

The House adjourned plenary to Wednesday in honour of Hassan Danjuma, late Kano lawmaker who died on April 10, 2026, at the age of 66.