KEY POINTS

• ADC gained 10 lawmakers in the House of Representatives following defections from LP, PDP, and APC.
• Several other legislators switched to APC, Accord, LP, and APP across multiple states.
• Defecting lawmakers cited internal party crises as the main reason for their moves ahead of the 2027 elections.

The African Democratic Congress , ADC, has secured ten new members in the House of Representatives following a fresh round of defections as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among the lawmakers who joined the ADC is George Ozodinobi, the deputy minority whip, who defected from the Labour Party (LP). Ozodinobi represents the Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia federal constituency of Anambra state. Also moving from the LP to the ADC are Harris Okonkwo, representing Idemili North/Idemili South federal constituency of Anambra state, and Seyi Sowunmi, who represents Ojo federal constituency of Lagos state.

From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Yaya Bauchi Tongo (Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye), Mani Maishinko Katami (Binji/Silame, Sokoto), Abdussamad Dasuki (Kebbe/Tambuwal, Sokoto), and Umar Yusuf Yabo (Yabo/Shagari, Sokoto) also defected to the ADC. Bashir Gorau, representing Goronyo/Gada federal constituency of Sokoto state, similarly crossed over from the PDP to the ADC, while George Olawande (Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos) also left the Labour Party for the ADC.

Mustapha Abdullahi, representing Ikara/Kubau federal constituency of Kaduna state, joined the ADC from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Meanwhile, other defections saw Philip Agbese, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency of Benue state, move from the APC to the Labour Party. Akanni Ademola (Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila federal constituency, Osun) defected from the PDP to the Accord Party, while Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye in Osun also moved from the PDP to the Accord.

In Imo state, Ugochinyere Michael Ikeagwuonu (Ideato federal constituency) defected from the PDP to the Action Peoples Party (APP), and Nwogu Mathew (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala federal constituency) left the Labour Party for the APP.

Further defections strengthened the APC as Jaafaru Yakubu (Bali/Gassol) and Sadiq Abbas Tafida (Jalingo/Yorro/Zing) from Taraba state moved from the PDP to the ruling party.

Bello Shinkafi (Shinkafi/Zurmi, Zamfara) also defected from the PDP to the APC, while Ibrahim Mohammed (Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza) joined the APC from the PDP in Kebbi state. Mohammed Bassi, representing Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo federal constituency of Adamawa state, also moved from the PDP to the APC.

Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read the defection notices during plenary on Tuesday. The lawmakers attributed their decisions to ongoing internal crises within their former political parties.