Lawmakers, Yiaga Africa, CISLAC, others say it’s betrayal of voters’ trust
By James Kwen and Samson Elijah
What began as a trickle of defections shortly after the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023 has now snowballed into one of the largest waves of political cross-carpeting in Nigeria’s democratic history.
From the Senate to the House of Representatives, more than 120 federal lawmakers have dumped the political parties on whose platforms they were elected, triggering concerns about political loyalty, ideological bankruptcy, and the weakening of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
While many lawmakers have gravitated towards the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), others have moved among opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Accord Party and the emerging Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Last week, however, a fresh wave of defections hit the National Assembly. Although most of the lawmakers had earlier defected from the parties on whose platforms they had won election, they again joined the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
The development followed the defection of former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the ADC to the NDC.
A number of lawmakers were also making their first moves to new political parties, making the 10th National Assembly one of the most politically fluid in Nigeria’s democratic history.
The scale of the defections has unsettled the political landscape, with many critics saying the trend reflects the primacy of survival politics in the country.
House of Reps
In the House of Representatives, defectors from the crisis-ridden PDP to the ruling APC include Oluwole Oke (Osun), Hussein Jallo (Kaduna), Adamu Tanko (Niger), Victor Nwokolo (Delta), Julius Pondi (Delta), Thomas Ereyitomi (Delta), Nicholas Mutu (Delta), Ukodhiko Jonathan (Delta), and Ezechi Nnamdi (Delta).
From Akwa Ibom State, Idem Uyime, Esin Etim, Paul Ekpo, Uduak Odudoh, Okon Bassey, Etteh Ikpong, and Mark Esset — all PDP members — alongside Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo of the YPP, also joined the APC.
Three PDP members in the House — Ajilesoro Taofeek Abimbola, Omirin Olusanya, and Marcus Onobun — equally defected to the APC. Similarly, four NNPP lawmakers from Kano State — Kabiru Usman, Abdullahi Sani, Abdulmumin Jibrin, and Sagir Koki — moved to the ruling party.
The only PDP member from Benue State in the House, Ojema Ojotu, also defected to the APC, alongside Godwin Offiono and Akpanke from Cross River State, and Paul Nnamchi of the LP from Enugu State.
In Kaduna State, Abdulkarim Ahmed, Aliyu Abdullahi, and Sadiq Abdullahi all dumped the PDP for the APC. Six opposition lawmakers from Enugu State and Daniel Asama from Plateau State also moved to the ruling party.
Three PDP lawmakers from Katsina State — Balarabe Dabai, Iliyasu Abubakar, and Salisu Yusuf — equally defected to the APC, while Mansur Jega from Kebbi State resigned from the PDP to join the ruling party.
From Rivers State, Awaji Inombek, Boma Goodhead, Boniface Emerengwa, and LP member Manuchim Umezurike also crossed over to the APC.
At a plenary in December 2025, six PDP lawmakers — Robinson Dekor, Bob Solomon, Hart Cyril, Victor Obuzor, Blessing Amadi, and Felix Uche — defected to the APC.
This year alone, 27 members of the House of Representatives have announced defections to new political platforms. While some joined the APC, others moved between opposition parties.
