Fresh defections on the floor of the House of Representatives are reinforcing signs of a broader political reshaping ahead of the 2027 general elections, as lawmakers continue to abandon established parties over internal disputes and uncertainty.
During plenary on Thursday in Abuja, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, formally announced the defection of Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress. Bello El-Rufai currently represents a federal constituency in Kaduna State.
The Speaker also confirmed that two lawmakers from Kaduna State, Umar Ajilo and Suleiman Richifa, left the Peoples Democratic Party to join the ADC. In a separate development, Kamilu Ado of Kano State moved from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Joshua Obika, representing the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory, dumped the APC for the NDC.
According to the lawmakers, internal disagreements and unresolved crises within their former parties influenced their decisions to switch political platforms. The latest movements come at a time when parties across the country are grappling with leadership disputes, coalition talks, and growing pressure to reposition before the next election cycle.
Political observers say the trend reflects increasing uncertainty within Nigeria’s major parties and could alter existing alliances in the National Assembly. The wave of defections is also expected to intensify competition among emerging political blocs seeking to attract influential figures and expand their national reach.
For many voters, the developments raise broader questions about party stability and ideological direction as political actors continue to realign.
With preparations for the 2027 elections already gathering pace, analysts say the coming months may witness even more movement across party lines as politicians search for platforms they believe offer stronger structures and clearer prospects.
