A fresh round of defections swept through the House of Representatives on Tuesday, with lawmakers switching party allegiance in what observers link to early realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the resumption of plenary after the Easter recess, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, read several letters of defection, highlighting growing shifts within the political landscape.
Kalu dismissed fears that the trend could lead to a one-party system, describing it as a reflection of democratic freedom.
He said lawmakers were moving across party lines, noting that members of both majority and minority parties were involved in the latest developments.
One of the notable defections came from Lagos State, where the member representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, Thaddeus Attah, dumped the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.
In his letter, Attah attributed his decision to the lingering leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which he said had affected effective representation.
The Peoples Democratic Party recorded the highest number of losses, with five lawmakers defecting to other parties.
Abubakar Abdul from Niger State joined the All Progressives Congress, while Yakubu Noma from Kebbi State moved to the ADC. Another Kebbi lawmaker, Ibrahim Mohammed, also defected to the APC.
In Osun State, Mudashiru Alani, representing Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa, and Adetunji Olusoji of Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe constituencies, left the PDP for the Accord Party.
The ruling APC also suffered setbacks, losing two members. David Fuoh from Taraba State defected to the PDP, while Bashir Zubair from Kaduna State joined the ADC.
The development underscores the fluid nature of party allegiance in Nigeria’s legislature, particularly as election cycles approach.
Analysts say internal party crises, re-election considerations and alignment with influential political blocs often drive such defections.
Since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, the APC has retained a majority in the House, while opposition parties continue to reposition through alliances and defections.
The growing profile of smaller parties, including the ADC, has also been linked to the shifting dynamics as political actors seek alternative platforms.
Plenary was later adjourned till Wednesday in honour of a Kano lawmaker, Hassan Danjuma, who died on April 10, 2026, at the age of 66.
