Fresh political defections shook the House of Representatives on Thursday as five lawmakers officially left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in what observers describe as early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defections were announced during plenary after the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read the lawmakers’ letters of resignation and new party affiliations.
Among the notable defectors is Mohammed El-Rufai, representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency and son of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
He dumped the APC for the NDC in a move that has intensified political discussions around growing tensions between his father and the ruling party.
Political observers say the development may further deepen the perceived rift between Nasir El-Rufai and the APC, especially as the former governor has recently criticised the party’s internal democratic processes and leadership style.
Also joining the NDC is Joshua Obika, who represents Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kuje/Kwali Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory.
Obika left the APC, marking his third political party switch since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
He was originally elected on the platform of the Labour Party in 2023 before defecting to the APC in March 2026, a move that now adds to the wave of political realignments within the legislature.
Similarly, Abdulhakeem Kamilu, representing Wudil/Garko Federal Constituency of Kano State, left the ADC for the NDC, citing unresolved leadership issues within his former party.
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Kamilu was previously elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party before joining the ADC earlier this year.
In another development, two lawmakers from Kaduna State, Suleiman Richifa and Umar Ajilo, defected from the PDP to the ADC. Both lawmakers attributed their decision to ongoing internal crises within the PDP at both state and national levels.
The latest defections come just days after reports indicated that 17 lawmakers had aligned with the NDC, further signalling the emergence of new political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
Analysts say the growing wave of defections highlights increasing instability within major political parties and underscores intensified behind-the-scenes negotiations as politicians position themselves for the next electoral cycle.
The development has significantly altered the composition of the House of Representatives and is expected to fuel further realignments in the coming months.