From Sodiq Omolaoye, Abuja
The House of Representatives was thrown into fresh political realignment on Tuesday as 17 lawmakers defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defections were formally announced during plenary, marking one of the most significant bloc movements in the current legislative session.
The development comes barely 24 hours after prominent opposition figures, including former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also exited the ADC for the NDC.
Also during Tuesday’s plenary, Leke Abejide formally notified the House of his defection from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers who moved to the NDC include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande, Munachim Umezuruike, Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene and Abdulhakeem Ado.
Obi had said his decision to join the NDC was driven by the urgent need to “rescue Nigeria” from worsening economic and governance challenges.
He stressed that the decision followed deep reflection on the state of the nation and the direction of its democracy.
“I joined the NDC to continue the struggle for a new Nigeria built on justice, competence, accountability, and compassion for the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.
He maintained that his defection from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was not driven by personal ambition or convenience, but by what he described as orchestrated crises and litigations within political parties that undermine democratic participation.
