By Boluwatife Oshadiya | April 1, 2026
Key Points
- 27 House of Representatives members defect across APC, ADC, APP, and Accord Party
- APC gains majority share with 14 lawmakers, boosting dominance in the chamber
- Lawmakers cite internal party crises as primary reason for defections
Main Story
A total of 27 members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives defected from their political parties on Tuesday, triggering one of the largest waves of legislative realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas formally announced the defections during plenary, confirming shifts across multiple parties. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) recorded the largest gains, adding 14 lawmakers—eight of whom defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) gained eight members drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and APC, while the Action Peoples Party (APP) and Accord Party secured two lawmakers each.
The movement significantly strengthens the APC’s position in the House, bringing its estimated membership to about 280 out of 360 seats, further consolidating its legislative control.
The defections were witnessed by key political figures, including Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
“The decision to defect follows unresolved internal crises within our former parties,” several lawmakers stated in their individual letters read during plenary.
What’s Being Said
“The scale of these defections reflects deeper instability within opposition parties as 2027 approaches,” said political analyst Jide Ojo.
“For the APC, this is a strategic consolidation of power that could shape legislative outcomes in the coming years,” added Abuja-based policy researcher Amina Sadiq.
What’s Next
- Further defections are expected as party primaries approach in 2026
- Opposition parties may initiate internal reforms to stem membership losses
- Political alignments will likely intensify ahead of the 2027 election cycle
The Bottom Line:
The latest defections reinforce APC’s legislative dominance while exposing structural weaknesses within opposition parties. With 2027 on the horizon, Nigeria’s political battlefield is already undergoing significant recalibration.
