A total of 27 members of the House of Representatives defected from their parties on Tuesday, marking one of the biggest waves of political realignments in the Green Chamber ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read the notices of defection during plenary.
The defections saw the African Democratic Congress gain eight new lawmakers, comprising five from the Peoples Democratic Party, two from the Labour Party, and one from the All Progressives Congress.
APC recorded the most gains with fourteen joiners, including eight from Kano State who were previously members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
The development was witnessed by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, among others.
The defections strengthened the ruling party’s position in the House, bringing its membership to about 280 out of 360 lawmakers.
The Action Peoples Party gained two members, one each from the PDP and LP, while the Accord Party added two lawmakers, both from the PDP.
The lawmakers cited internal crises in their former parties as the reason for their defections.
Full list of defecting lawmakers, former parties, and new political platforms:
- Aliu Madaki (Deputy Minority Leader) — NNPP to APC — Dala (Kano)
- George Ozodinobi (Deputy Minority Whip) — LP to ADC — Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia (Anambra)
- Philip Agbese — APC to LP — Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo (Benue)
- Ugochinyere Michael Ikeagwuonu — PDP to APP — Ideato (Imo)
- Abdussamad Dasuki — PDP to ADC — Kebbe/Tambuwal (Sokoto)
- Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe — NNPP to APC — Tofa/Dawakin-Tofa/Rimingado (Kano)
- Seyi Sowunmi — LP to ADC — Ojo (Lagos)
- Mohammed Bassi — PDP to APC — Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo (Adamawa)
- Ghali Tijjani Mustapha — NNPP to APC — Ajingi/Albasu/Gaya (Kano)
- Shehu Bello — NNPP to APC — Fagge (Kano)
- Dankawu Idris — NNPP to APC — Kumbotso (Kano)
- Hussain Hassan Shehu — NNPP to APC — Nassarawa (Kano)
- Rabiu Yusuf — NNPP to APC — Sumaila/Takai (Kano)
- Garba Mohammed Chiroma — NNPP to APC — Gezawa/Gabasawa (Kano)
- Ibrahim Mohammed (Kano) — NNPP to APC — Gwale (Kano)
- Jaafaru Yakubu — PDP to APC — Bali/Gassol (Taraba)
- Sadiq Abbas Tafida — PDP to APC — Jalingo/Yorro/Zing (Taraba)
- Ibrahim Mohammed (Kebbi) — PDP to APC — Birnin-Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza (Kebbi)
- Bello Shinkafi — PDP to APC — Shinkafi/Zurmi (Zamfara)
- Harris Okonkwo — LP to ADC — Idemili North/South (Anambra)
- Yaya Bauchi Tongo — PDP to ADC — Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye (Gombe)
- Mustapha Abdullahi — APC to ADC — Ikara/Kubau (Kaduna)
- Mani Maishinko Katami — PDP to ADC — Binji/Silame (Sokoto)
- Umar Yusuf Yabo — PDP to ADC — Yabo/Shagari (Sokoto)
- Nwogu Mathew — LP to APP — Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala (Imo)
- Akanni Clement Ademola — PDP to Accord — Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila (Osun)
- Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye — PDP to Accord — Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan (Osun)
The mass defections underscore intensifying political realignments within the House as parties reposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
