Twelve members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria on Thursday announced their defection from their political parties, raising fresh concerns about internal party instability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Of the 12 lawmakers who switched allegiance, six members left the Peoples Democratic Party to join the ruling All Progressives Congress. Five lawmakers defected from the Labour Party and the PDP to the African Democratic Congress, while one member moved from the Young Progressives Party to the ADC.
Those who defected from the PDP to the APC include James Barka (Adamawa), Kwamoti Bitrus Laori (Adamawa), Zakaria Nyampa (Adamawa), Kobis Thimnu (Adamawa), Midala Balami (Borno), and Mohammed Bargaja (Sokoto).
Lawmakers who moved to the ADC include Afam Victor Ogene, Peter Aniekwe, and Lilian Orogbu from Anambra State; Jessey Onakalusi from Lagos State; and Murphy Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, also disclosed that some other lawmakers had written to the leadership of the House indicating their intention to leave their current parties.
However, he said the letters and the destination parties of the lawmakers would not be disclosed in their absence.
While announcing the defections, Kalu explained that the lawmakers cited reasons similar to those previously given by other members who had defected. He added that the House decided not to read the letters during the session in order to save time, noting that the letters would only be presented when the affected lawmakers are present in the chamber.
During Wednesday’s plenary, four lawmakers—Garba Inuwa, Abdullahi El-Rasheed, Mohammed Audu, and Joshua Obika—also defected to the APC, while Adewale Adebayo left the PDP to join the Accord Party.
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