A sweeping wave of defections in Nigeria’s House of Representatives is raising fresh concerns about political accountability, after 27 lawmakers switched parties in a single day, reshaping the balance within the lower chamber.
The development unfolded on Tuesday in Abuja, where members elected under different platforms formally declared new political allegiances on the floor of the House. The movement cuts across major parties, including the New Nigeria People’s Party, All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, and the African Democratic Congress.
At the centre of the shift, nine lawmakers from Kano State elected on the NNPP platform moved to the APC, including representatives from constituencies such as Ajingi/Albasu/Gaya, Fagge, and Kumbotso. The move significantly alters the political landscape in Kano, where the NNPP had previously maintained a strong presence.
Beyond Kano, the realignment extended nationwide, with eight lawmakers joining the ADC from different parties. Among them are lawmakers from Anambra, Gombe, Kaduna, and Sokoto states, reflecting a broader pattern of cross-party movement rather than a single bloc defection.
Other individual switches further highlight the scale of the shift. A lawmaker from Benue moved from the APC to the Labour Party, while members from Osun and Imo states defected to smaller parties, including the Accord Party and the Action Peoples Party. Additional lawmakers from Adamawa, Taraba, Kebbi, and Zamfara states also left the PDP for the APC.
While lawmakers have not publicly detailed their reasons during plenary, such movements are often linked to internal party disputes, strategic positioning, or alignment with emerging political coalitions ahead of future elections, according to political observers.
The scale and speed of the defections are now prompting questions about the implications for constituents who voted along party lines, with analysts noting that frequent cross-carpeting could weaken party discipline and blur ideological distinctions within Nigeria’s political system.
As the House adjusts to its new composition, attention is shifting to how these changes may influence legislative priorities and alliances, particularly as political calculations intensify ahead of the next general election cycle.
