HBy Gloria Ikibah
A fresh round of defections has shaken the House of Representatives, with lawmakers switching allegiances in what signals early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Upon resumption of plenary following the Easter recess, the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read out multiple defection letters, pointing to a rapidly shifting political landscape. He brushed aside fears of an emerging one-party state, arguing that the movement across party lines reflects a functioning democracy.
“This is to show the country that no party is stiffled. People are leaving the majority party to the minority parties and the minority parties to the majority party. This is the beauty of democracy,” Kalu said.
Among the high-profile moves, Rep. Thaddeus Attah of Lagos State exited the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress, citing internal instability within his former party.
“the protracted crisis in the leadership of the LP,” he noted, had hindered his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
The Peoples Democratic Party took the biggest hit, losing five members in the latest reshuffle. Some defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, while others aligned with the ADC. In Osun State, two lawmakers also left the PDP for the Accord Party.
The APC, however, was not spared, as a handful of its members crossed over to opposition parties, underlining the two-way nature of the political shifts.
With less than two years to the next general elections, defections appear to be gathering pace, driven by internal party disputes, strategic calculations and the quest for stronger political platforms.
Observers note that as parties begin to consolidate ahead of primaries, more lawmakers are likely to reassess their positions, making further realignments almost inevitable.
Plenary was later adjourned in honour of Kano lawmaker Hassan Danjuma, who passed away earlier in April at the age of 66.